Serum lipid profile and plasma levels of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 in Egyptian Children and Adolescents with β Thalassemia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Thalassemia is considered the most common hereditary anemia in Egypt. Lipids and lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 abnormalities have been detected in different types of beta-thalassemia. The aim of this study was to investigate the plasma lipid profile and Lp-PLA2 in the Egyptian children with β-thalassemia and to clarify the disease associations that may underline the alterations of the enzyme observed in patients with β-thalassemia.

METHODS: The study is cross sectional, case-control study that was conducted in Children Hospital, Ain Shams University in the period from January 2013 to December 2014.The study group consisted of 35 β TM patients and 25 β TI patients. The control group included 20 sex-and age-matched healthy subjects. Serum lipids profiles (total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, and HDL-cholesterol), Quantitative determination of human Lp-PL A2 concentration in blood by ELISA technique, as well as hemoglobin (Hb) and ferritin, were compared between the three groups. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: Patients with βTM and βTI show significantly high plasma levels of Lp-PLA2,which is significantly higher in β-TM compared with β-TI patients. The TG level shows significant increase in β-TM patients group than βTI patients and control groups. HDL-cholesterol was lower in the patients with β-Thalassemia than in the control group. It was found that there was a significant increase in Lp-PL A2 in patients without splenectomy than splenectomized patients .

CONCLUSIONS: β- thalassemia patients should be closely monitored for their cardiac state and should be routinely evaluated for their cardiovascular and cerebral risk factors. It is suggested that splenectomy would be considered in βTM and βTI patients.