Early Diagnosis of Cardiac Involvement in β-Thalassemia Major

Background. Cardiac involvement is the major cause of morbidity and death in (â)- thalassemia Major. We aimed to compare echocardiography findings in early diagnosis of cardiac involvement. Methods: 46 Beta (â)-thalassemia Major patients aged less than 10-year and 46 beta thalassemia patients aged over 10-year were studied. Echocardiography and Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) were done. Results: The mean of RV pre-ejection period to ejection time (PEP/ET), LV PEP/ET, mitral and tricuspid peak E:A velocities ratio (E/A), RV myocardial performance index (MPI) and LV MPI in group A and B did not show any significant differences. The mean of tricuspid deceleration time (DT), mitral DT and from DTI the tricuspid and mitral annular velocities in group A and B demonstrated significant differences. Conclusions: This study showed abnormal diastolic dysfunction in asymptomatic chil- dren with Beta (â)-thalassemia Major that could be a useful biomarker to predict later and severe manifestations of cardiac disease.