title: Carotid endarterectomy in a young symptomatic patient with B-thalassemia major.
abstract: β-Thalassemia major promotes atherosclerotic process, although the debating literature concerning the lipidic profile of young patients; it is well accepted that there is early vascular destruction in these homozygous patients either as a direct consequence of the genetic disorder per se or because of the repeated transfusions and the iron overload. Despite the potential of the disease for local brain thrombotic events, accelerated atheromatosis can lead to early thromboembolic events. We present an interesting case of a 36-year-old man with unilateral embolic infarcts (repeated transient ischemic attacks) originated from a near occlusion right carotid stenosis with additional peripheral thrombus. The patient underwent a successful carotid endarterectomy with primary arterial closure with uneventful postoperative course, confirmed by a clear postoperative angiography; he remains asymptomatic 18 months later. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of a young symptomatic patient with β-thalassemia major who underwent carotid repair.
authors: Vascular Unit, 2nd Clinic of Surgery, Aretaieion Hospital Medical School, University of Athens, Greece. Electronic address: kotsisth@otenet.gr.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Kotsis
authors: Vascular Unit, 2nd Clinic of Surgery, Aretaieion Hospital Medical School, University of Athens, Greece.
authors: Evangelos
authors: E
authors: Pappas
authors: Vascular Unit, 2nd Clinic of Surgery, Aretaieion Hospital Medical School, University of Athens, Greece.
authors: Georgios
authors: G
authors: Sarmas
authors: 1st Clinic of Neurology, Aiginiteion Hospital.
authors: Sofia
authors: S
authors: Basilopoulou
authors: 1st Laboratory of Radiology, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Greece.
authors: Achilles
authors: A
authors: Hatzioannou
authors: 1st Clinic of Anaesthesiology, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Greece.
authors: Kassiani
authors: K
authors: Theodoraki
authors: Vascular Unit, 2nd Clinic of Surgery, Aretaieion Hospital Medical School, University of Athens, Greece.
authors: Spyridon
authors: S
authors: Mylonas
authors: 1st Clinic of Neurology, Aiginiteion Hospital.
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Speggos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000601:surgery*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications*