EFFECT OF OXIDATIVE STRESS AND SERUM
ANTIOXIDANT LEVEL ON THE CARDIAC FUNCTIONS OF THALASSEMIC PATIENTS
Kaddah N, El-Saiedi S, El- Tagui M, El- Wakeel H
Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
Objective: This study aim to find the effect of oxidative
stress and serum total antioxidant level on the cardiac function of
regularly transfused thalassemic patients.
Methods: This study was carried out on 30 thalassemic
patients 18 females and 12 males, aged from 7 months to 20 years, attending
the Hematology clinic in Pediatric Hospital, Cairo University. Data were
compared with those obtained in 10 age and sex-matched normal subjects.
They were subjected to echocardiographic evaluation and serum total
antioxidant serum malonyldialdehyde (MDA), iron and ferritin levels were
measured.
Results: An increase in MDA, iron and ferritin levels
were observed in the patients, while serum total antioxidant level was
comparable in the patients and controls. Echocardiographic examination
revealed abnormal left and right ventricular systolic and diastolic
functions. Correlation was done between echocardiographic data and serum
total antioxidant, MDA and ferritin level. This should that with decreased
serum total antioxidant level, a pattern of heart failure was observed and
dilatation of aorta. On the other hand with increased serum MDA level there
was an increase in pulmonary artery diameter.
Conclusion: This study reflects the effect of
oxidative stress on the heart of thalassemic patients. The finding of this
study also suggest that chelation therapy does not completely protect
patients with thalassemic from myocardial damage due to iron related
cardiac toxicity.