title: The hypercoagulable status in common Mediterranean β-thalassaemia mutations trait.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The coagulation activation in β-thalassaemia is multifactorial and most likely a consequence of the exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) on RBCs surface. The degree of PS exposure and procoagulant activity of RBCs in β-thalassaemia trait (BTT) subjects carrying common Mediterranean mutations were assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty BTT subjects carrying common Mediterranean mutations (β+, n = 53 and β0 , n = 27) and sixty healthy subjects served as controls were studied. Plasma prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2), percentage of PS expression on RBCs membrane, clotting times of modified thromboplastin generation test (MTGT) and modified partial thromboplastin with kaolin (MPTTK) were estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of annexin V positive RBCs and plasma F1+2 had a significant increase and MTGT had a significant decrease in BTT subjects versus controls and in β0 group versus β+ group. MPTTK was significantly shorter in BTT subjects than controls, but no significant deference between BTT subjects. The percentage of annexin V positive RBCs showed a significant negative correlation with haemoglobin level, MTGT and MPTTK, and a significant positive correlation with plasma F1+2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BTT subjects may have a risk of hypercoagulable state particularly in β0 genotype. Measurement of PS exposure on RBCs and the plasma F1+2 is useful to evaluate hypercoagulability state.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Labib
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Etewa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Atia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000378:metabolism; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D010976:Platelet Count; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult; D055544:beta-Globins / Q000235:genetics*; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017304:Annexin A5; D055544:beta-Globins
keywords: Annexin V positive RBCs; modified partial thromboplastin with kaolin; modified thromboplastin generation test; plasma F1+2; thalassaemia