Pulmonary Hypertension and Its Determinants in β-thalassemia Major and Intermedia Considering Left Ventricular Functional State

Behzad Farahani (Department of Cardiology, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran)
Abbas Fadaii (Department of Internal Medicine, Labafi Nejad Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran)
Isa Khaheshi (Cardiovascular Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran)
Forooz Baktash (Department of Cardiology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran)
Mohammad Amin Abbasi (Department of Internal Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran)
Ronak Mohammadi (Department of Cardiology, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS) Tehran, Iran)
Koosha Paydary (Students’ Scientific Research Center (SSRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran)

International Journal of Cardiovascular Practice
Vol. 1 No. 1 (2016)

Introduction: Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is a common complication in β-thalassemia. We aimed to determine the prevalence of PHT and its main indicators in patients with β thalassemia Major (TM) and β-thalassemia Intermedia (TI), considering left ventricular function.Methods: Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is a common complication in β-thalassemia. We aimed to determine the prevalence of PHT and its main indicators in patients with β thalassemia Major (TM) and β-thalassemia Intermedia (TI), considering left ventricular function.Results: The overall prevalence of PHT in TM and TI group was estimated to be 35.2% and 29.3%, respectively; while reduced LVEF was evident in 22.7% and 10.1% of patients with TM and TI, respectively. No significant correlation was observed between mean PAP and LVEF in the patients with TI (Pearson coefficient = -0.096, P value = 0.345); while, an adverse association was revealed between mean PAP and LVEF in patients with TM (Pearson coefficient = -0.227, P value = 0.033). Upon univariate analysis, the only significant association was observed between LVEF and pulmonary hypertension among TM patients (P value = 0.001).Our results did not indicate that male gender and aging may affect the development of PHT.Conclusions: According to our findings, a considerable proportion of patients with TM and TI may have PHT. We detected an adverse association between mean PAP and LVEF in patients with TM. Left ventricular function was reduced in patients with PHT among TM group.