[Echocardiographic and polycardiographic findings in multiple-transfused patients with thalassemia major].

: Echocardiographic and policardiographic measurements were carried out in 11 thalassemic major patients between 2 and 24 years of age, kept at on average Hb level of 9,77 gr.% (+/- 1,13) and who underwent chelation therapy with Deferoxamine subcutaneous and Vit. C. The echocardiographic examination gave normal values in 7 patients. In 4 patients underwent enlargement of the left ventricle: only in the telediastolic diameter in one case, with progressive involvement of the aorta and the left atrium in another 3 cases. Such alterations, as have already been recorded by various researchers, are probably the result of a condition due to the anemia state of the younger patients, whereas in older and polytransfused patients may be attributed to iron overload. No parameters surveyed by the polycardiographic examination indicated significant alterations in cardiac efficiency, except of one patient. The importance of echocardiography should be stressed; it is a simple, non invasive way of recording early cardiac alterations in thalassemic major patients and enables long-term monitoring of cardiac function in the assessment of the effectiveness of the chelation therapy.