RELATION BETWEEN OXIDATIVE STRESS AND CAROTID INTIMA-MEDIA THICKNESS IN BETA-THALASSEMIA MAJOR PATIENTS

Abstract

Beta-thalassemia is a heridetary hemolytic anemia with varying degrees of severity. Severely affected patients are treated with blood transfusion to maintain optimum level of hemoglobin for normal growth and physical activities. Vascular dysfunction with increase arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction has been demonstrated in patients with beta-thalassemia major patients. The present study was carried out to explore the relation between oxidative stress markers in beta-thalassemia major patients and carotid intima-media thickness. The study included 40 thalassemic patients recruited from Hematology-Clinic Faculty of Medicine – Ain Shams University in addition to 50 healthy children who served as control group. All cases were subjected to full history taking, clinical examination and laboratory investigations including CBC, liver functions, serum ferritin, Hb electrophoresis, NO, TAC and glutathione peroxidase. CIMT were measured to both patrients and controls. There was highly significant decrease in nitric oxide and total antioxidant capacity in thalassemic patients in comparison with control group. There was highly significant increase in glutathione peroxidase and carotid intima-media thickness in thalassemic patients in comparison with control group. The study concluded significant increase in carotid intima-media thickness(CIMT) in splenectomised thalassemia major patients in comparison with non splenectomised patient.