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Early electrocardiographic evaluation of atrial fibrillation risk in beta-thalassemia major patients

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Abstract

Although previous studies have documented a variety of electrocardiogram abnormalities in beta-thalassemia major (β-TM), little is known about P-wave dispersion (PD), an independent risk factor for development of atrial fibrillation. The aim of our study was to evaluate PD in β-TM patients with conserved systolic and diastolic functions. The study involved 40 β-TM patients (age 37.5 ± 10.2; 33 M) and 40 healthy subjects used as controls, matched for age and gender. PD was carefully measured using a 12-lead electrocardiogram. Cardiac iron levels were measured by cardiac magnetic resonance T2 star (CMR T2*) imaging. Comparing to the healthy control group, β-TM group presented increased values of the PD (40.1 ± 12.9 vs. 24 ± 7 ms; P < 0.004) and decreased CMR T2* imaging (29 ± 15 vs. 55 ± 13 ms; P = 0.03). We found a significant correlation between PD and CMR T2* values. Our study showed a significant increase of PD in β-TM patients with conserved systolic and diastolic cardiac functions. Our results indicate that PD is correlated to myocardial iron deposit, as assessed by CMR T2* imaging.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, Second University of Naples, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80100, Naples, Italy

    Vincenzo Russo, Anna Rago, Federica Di Meo, Andrea Antonio Papa, Maria Giovanna Russo, Paolo Golino, Raffaele Calabrò & Gerardo Nigro

  2. Internal Medicine Unit, Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy

    Bruno Pannone & Maria Carolina Mayer

  3. Microcitemia Center, Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy

    Anna Spasiano

Authors
  1. Vincenzo Russo
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  2. Anna Rago
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  3. Bruno Pannone
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  4. Federica Di Meo
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  8. Maria Giovanna Russo
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  10. Raffaele Calabrò
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Correspondence to Vincenzo Russo.

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Russo, V., Rago, A., Pannone, B. et al. Early electrocardiographic evaluation of atrial fibrillation risk in beta-thalassemia major patients. Int J Hematol 93, 446–451 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-011-0801-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-011-0801-3

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