Venous thromboembolism risk assessment among beta-thalassemia patients

BACKGROUND: Thromboembolic (TE) disorders are among the most common complications of beta-thalassemia. We designed this cross-sectional study to investigate the state of hypercoagulability and platelet activation in patients with beta-thalassemia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-five patients diagnosed with beta-thalassemia by hemoglobin electrophoresis were divided into three groups of 25 patients each: Group I (thalassemia trait), Group II (thalassemia intermedia [TI]), and Group III (thalassemia major). In addition, 50 healthy individuals were included as controls. Both patients and control groups were subjected to clinical and laboratory assessment, which included measurement of protein C, anti-thrombin III, D-dimer, CD41, CD42, CD61, and CD62P, and detection of beta-chain mutations. RESULTS: Levels of the platelet activation marker CD62P were significantly higher in beta-thalassemia patients (26.28 ± 18.01%) than in controls (4.78 ± 2.27%) (P < 0.001). The D-dimer level was significantly higher in beta-thalassemia patients (348.41 ± 571.01 ng/mL) than in controls (71.6 ± 39.61 ng/mL) (P < 0.001). Protein-C and AT-III levels were significantly lower in beta-thalassemia patients (71.45 ± 13.26%, 78.38 ± 15.32%) in comparison with controls (94.9 ± 13.03%, 96.52 ± 11.01%) (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). TE disorders were found in 7/25 (9%) beta-thalassemia patients, especially in older and postsplenectomy patients. TE was most commonly found in beta-TI. Beta-chain mutations were found in all patients with TE disorders, especially compound heterozygous intervening sequence (IVS) (IVS1.6 [T > C]/IVS1.110 [G > A]). CONCLUSION: Postsplenectomy teenagers and adults with beta-thalassemia with lower levels of natural anticoagulant in the blood, an increased level of D-dimer, and platelet activator factor had a significantly higher risk for TE than those with childhood beta-thalassemia and the control group. In comparison with other beta-thalassemia patients, TI with beta-chain mutations is more likely to develop TE.