Pulmonary hypertension in patients with sickle cell/ thalassemia: incidence and correlation with serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentrations

Abstract

The incidence of PH in patients with HbS/beta-thal is similar to that observed in patients with SCD. Serum NT-proBNP is a strong indicator of PH in HbS/beta-thal. The correlation between PH and reticulocyte counts and ferritin suggests that the degree of hemolysis and iron overload is implicated in the pathogenesis of PH in HbS/beta-thal.