Clinical management of cardiovascular complications in patients with thalassaemia major: a large observational multicenter study

Abstract

Approximately 19% of regularly transfused and chelated thalassaemia major patients need cardiovascular drug therapy. This subgroup is characterized by a dilated and mildly hypokinetic left ventricle when compared with the majority of thalassaemia major patients, who do not need any cardioactive drug. These data underscore the importance of careful evaluation of cardiac functional status in patients with thalassaemia major. Moreover, this database may serve as a clinically useful reference grid for echocardiograph values in this patient population.