A comparison of heart function and arrhythmia in clinically asymptomatic patients with beta thalassemia intermedia and beta thalassemia major

ABSTRACT

Background: The goal of this study was to compare heart function and arrhythmia in clinically asymptomatic patients with beta thalassemia intermedia and beta thalassemia major.

Method: In this cross-sectional study, 60 patients with beta thalassemia major and 60 patients with beta thalassemia intermedia who had clinically no symptoms of arrhythmia and clinically normal heart function were evaluated using 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring and echocardiography. For data analysis SPSS ver.20 software was used. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The mean age of the beta thalassemia intermedia patients was 24.18 ± 7.9 years and the mean age in beta thalassemia major was 24.38 ± 7.7 years (P>0.05). Premature atrial contractions (PACs) were observed in 14 (23.3%) patients with beta thalassemia intermedia and in 22 (36.6%) beta thalassemia major patients. Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) were detected in 8 (13.3%) patients in the beta thalassemia intermediate group and 16 (26.6) patients in the beta thalassemia major group, respectively. The left ventricular diastolic dimension, end-diastolic volume, and stroke volume were significantly higher in beta thalassemia intermedia group (P<0.05). Pulmonary acceleration time as an indicator of pulmonary pressure was lower in beta thalassemia intermedia group.

Conclusion: Both atrial and ventricular arrhythmias were more common in the beta thalassemia major group. Higher end-diastolic volume and stroke volume were detected in the beta thalassemia intermedia group. Pulmonary acceleration time was lower in the beta thalassemia intermedia group, which can be an indicator of higher pulmonary pressure.

KEYWORDS:

• Arrhythmia
• beta thalassemia
• echocardiography
• Holter monitoring

Acknowledgments

The present article was extracted from the thesis written by Samaneh Zeighami. Also, we thank Dr. S. Erfani for editing and improving the use of English. We thank Dr. Varahram and Ms. S. Behrozi in the Emam Reza exercise test unit for their cooperation in performing Holter monitoring. This article is edited by a native speaker (Sheryl Nikpoor).

Disclaimer statements

Contributors H. Amoozgar contributed to drafting and editing the manuscript.

S. Zeighami wrote the manuscript and performed the data collection. S. Haghpanah done statistical analysis.

M. Karimi contributed to the study design, concept, and editing the manuscript.

Funding This study was financially supported by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences grant No 92-01-01-6336.

Conflicts of interest None declared

Ethics approval This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.