Evaluation of cardiac function in patients with thalassemia receiving hycroxy urea at Booali Hospital Sari, Iran, from 1377 to 1382

Background and Hydroxy urea lowers the severity of anemia in patients with thalassemia by increasing Hb F but may cause negative effects on heart due to high Ô2 affinity of Hb F. This descriptive study was performed on patients with thalassemia receiving Hydroxyurea during a five year period in thalassemia ward at Booali Hospital. Ïnclusion criteria were no none or less than 4 times transfusion in a year and using Hydroxyurea since at least one year ago (range 1-5 yr). Demographic & other data were collected through a questionare. The data were then analyzed using descriptive methods by SPSS software. Çorrelation of some variables was evaluated by pearson correlation coefficient. This study were done on 20 patients including 13 (32%) male & 27 (68%) female aged ranging 20.87 to 3.95. 48% of them had no cardiac problem but some had cardiac complains including 15% mild chest pain, 35% occasional palpitation & 32% occasional dyspnea. Physical examination showed grade more than 2.6 systolic murmur in 5%, S3 in 2.5% and mild edema in lower extremity in 37%. None of the patients had heart failure. Âccording to Ëchpcardiography all of the patients had normal systolic function but 35% had mild diastolic dysfunction. 72.5% had normal ËÇG finding without arrhythmia but 15% had mild increased PR interval (max=0.2sec) and 12.5% had nonspecific ST-T changes. Çonclusion: Âs no significant cardiac complications were found and considering the positive effect of Hydroxyurea on Hb level in thalassemia, it could be used in these patients.