الفهرس 
Material and methodsOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
SUMMARY AI”D CONCLUSION
Thalassmias are a heterogenous group of heretable
hypochromic anemias of various degrees of severity.
Thalassemias is the most common type of chronic hemolytic
anemia in Mediterranean countries. It consists of several genetically
determined disorders due to unequal synthesis of hemoglobin chains
that causes ineffective erythropoiesis.
Thalassemias have several complications but the main cause of
death is still heart failure caused by hypoxia, cardiac hemosiderosis
and hyperdynamic circulatory overload.
The aim of this study is to assess some cardiac and pulmonary
changes in patients with beta-thalassemia major. The study was
conducted on 25 beta-thalassemia major patients selected from the
pediatric clinic ofBenha University hospital. Their ages ranges from
5.4 to 15 years. 25 apparently healthy children age and sex matched
are studied as a control group.
Echo-Doppler was done to all patients where it can detect
early cardiac complications of beta-thalassemia major and
demonstrated that cardiac dilatation occurs in thalassemics as
indicated by increased LVEDD and LVESD. LVEDD was increased
more frequently.
LYM was significantly greater in cases than control group. FS
and EF were impaired in a small number of patients (8%) who
shows no signs of heart failure clinically.
Pulmonary hypertension appeared 111 20% of patients
diagnosed by pulmonary acceleration time.
Right ventricular function was assessed by tricaspid E/A ratio
where (20%) patients only showed reversed E/A ratio indicating
right ventricular dysfunction.
ECG was done to all patients and the most common
abnormality detected was left ventricular hypertrophy.
Chest x-ray was done to all patients and revealed
cardiomegaly in 7 (28%) patients.
The above results showed that echocardiography can detect
early cardiac complications of beta-thalassemia major. Left ventricle
was affected more than the right ventricle in thalassemics.
Pulmonary function assessment was done to all patients. That
revealed restrictive pattern of pulmonary function, obstructive
element was also detected.
Pulmonary function abnormalities were due to pulmonary
hemosiderosis, hypoxemia, cardiac damage, decreased alveolar
growth and pulmonary vascular involvement by microthrombosis.