title: Coronary Microvascular function, Peripheral Endothelial Function and Carotid IMT in beta-thalassemia minor.
abstract: Higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease in Thalassemia patients have been known. Potential mechanisms are enhanced platelet activation, LDL oxidation, macrophage activation, and increased nitric oxide destruction. We have investigated coronary flow reserve (CFR), brachial artery flow mediated dilation (FMD) and Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in patients with Beta thalessemia minor (BTM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients with BTM and 35 healthy control subjects were included. In all subjects CFR, brachial artery FMD, carotid artery IMT were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CFR measurements: Coronary baseline diastolic peak flow velocity (DPFV) of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was significantly higher in the BTM group (23.8 ± 3.9 vs. 22.1 ± 3.0, P = 0.04). However, hyperemic DPFV was significantly lower (61.1 ± 13.0 vs. 68.2 ± 14.2, P = 0.02), and CFR was significantly lower (2.57 ± 0.46 vs. 3.07 ± 0.48, P < 0.0001) in the BTM group than that in the control group. Brachial artery FMD and carotid IMT measurements: Percent FMD measurements were significantly lower in the BTM group than that in the controls (6.22 ± 4.29 vs. 8.10 ± 4.00, P = 0.01). Carotid IMT measurements were significantly but slightly higher in the BTM group than that in the controls (0.57 ± 0.07 vs. 0.54 ± 0.04, P = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CFR reflecting coronary microvascular function and brachial artery FMD are decreased, and carotid IMT is increased in patients with BTM.
authors.affiliation: Baskent University, Teaching and Medical Research Centers, Cardiology Department, Adana and Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gullu
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caliskan
authors.forename: Zuhal
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Caliskan
authors.forename: Gulhan Kanat
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Unler
authors.forename: Eda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ermisler
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ciftci
authors.forename: Aytekin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guven
authors.forename: Haldun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Muderrisoglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014664:Vasodilation; D055815:Young Adult; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*