VOLUME

To evaluate pulmonary hypertension (PH) in asymptomatic thalassemic patients using echocardiographic right ventricular (RV) parameters.

This is a cross-sectional study. We assessed 32 ambulatory asymptomatic  thalassemia  cases  both clinically and using echocardiographic parameters. PH was observed in 13 (40%) patients.

Unpaired two tail t-test between groups show significant difference in RV echocardiographic parameter S’  (p = 0.03),  E’  (p = 0.016) and Tricuspid valve (TV) E/E’ (p = 0.04). Other RV echocardiographic parameters such as the right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), A’, and Tei index are insignificant.

PH was found in 40% of asymptomatic thalassemic patients. Of all echocardiographic RV parameters, we found that the tissue doppler imaging (TDI): S’, E’ and TV E/E’ are the best tools for screening. This tool detects early RV dysfunction in asymptomatic thalassemias with PH.

right ventricular function, thalassemia, pulmonary hypertension, PH

10.31524/bkkmedj.2014.02.002