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Is beta-thalassemia trait a protective factor against ischemic cerebrovascular accidents?

Karimi M, Haghighi AB, Yazdani M, Raisi H, Giti R, Namazee MR

Hematology Research Center, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz, Iran. karimim@sums.ac.ir

OBJECTIVE: In this research, we sought to determine the association between beta-thalassemia trait and ischemic cerebrovascular accident (CVA). METHODS: In acase-control study, 148 patients with thromboembolic cerebrovascular events were evaluated for the presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and beta-thalassemia trait. A total of 156 age- and sex-matched patients with no cardiac or cerebrovascular diseases, serving as the control group, were also investigated for the above-mentioned risk factors. RESULTS: We found that 6.1% of patients with ischemic CVA and 12.2% of the control group had beta-thalassemia trait (P = .066). In male patients, the negative association between ischemic CVA and presence of beta-thalassemia trait was significant (P = .008). In patients, the prevalence of hypertension was also significantly different between those with and without beta-thalassemia trait (P = .01); those with beta-thalassemia trait had a lower mean blood pressure than those without the trait. CONCLUSION: beta-Thalassemia trait may have a protective effect against ischemic CVA that might be caused by the lower arterial blood pressure observed in those with this trait.

Published 18 March 2008 in J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis, 17(2): 79-81.
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