Iranian Heart Journal

Iranian Heart Journal

Evaluation of Different Arrhythmias and Cardiac Iron Overload Status in β-Thalassemia Major: A Cross-Sectional Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Amir Farjam Fazelifar 1
Mona Heidarali 2
Mohammad Reza Kiarsi 3
Saeed Abrotan 4
Elahe Baghizadeh 2
Farnaz Rafiee 2
1 Cardiac Electrophysiology Research Center, Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
2 Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
3 Electrophysiology Research Center, Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
4 Rohani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, IR Iran.
Abstract
Background: Cardiac involvement due to iron deposition in β-thalassemia major remains the main cause of mortality. We assessed the effects of cardiac iron overload on the incidence of arrhythmias in β-thalassemia major.
 
Methods: The present cross-sectional study enrolled patients with β-thalassemia major referred to a tertiary cardiovascular care center in Tehran, Iran, between January 2019 and January 2020. The patients’ characteristics were collected using hospital records. Cardiac iron overload status was assessed using cardiac T2* magnetic resonance (severe ≤10 ms, moderate =10–20 ms, and mild =20 ms).
 
Results: The present study recruited 81 β-thalassemia major cases with a mean age (SD) of 30.69 (11.12) years. Mild, moderate, and severe iron overload statuses were reported in 44.4%, 22.2%, and 33.3% of the stud population, respectively. Of 44 patients (54.3%) with arrhythmias, supraventricular tachyarrhythmias were seen in 24.7%, ventricular tachycardias in 19.8%, and atrioventricular blocks in 9.9%. A significant association was reported between iron overload status and the presence of arrhythmias (P<0.001). There was a significant association between iron overload and dilated atria (P=0.004). The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was not associated with cardiac iron status, but it was associated with the presence of arrhythmias (P<0.001). Desferal therapy was considerably associated with cardiac iron status (P=0.04).
 
Conclusions: According to iron chelation therapy, patients with more severe iron overload had a higher incidence rate of arrhythmias. Additionally, patients with lower LVEF values had a higher incidence rate of arrhythmias. There was no statistically significant association between LVEF and cardiac iron overload status. (Iranian Heart Journal 2022; 23(4): 60-68)
Keywords
Iron overload
Arrhythmia
VT
SVT
AV block
Thalassemia
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Iranian Heart Journal
Volume 23, Issue 4
Autumn 2022
Pages 60-68