Introduction: Beta thalassemia major is a hereditary anemia secondary to deficient production of the beta-globins in structurallynormal hemoglobin, with a consequent precocious destruction of red globules present in the circulation. Coagulation and cardiaccomplications due to the accumulation of iron are the main causes of death in these patients.Clinical case: The authors present a case of cardiac iron overload complicated by fatal multi-organ embolism due to a left ventricularthrombus in a beta-thalassemia major patient.Discussion: The presence of chronic hypercoagulability related to pro-thrombotic anomalies in beta-thalassemia major patientsmay be complicated by thrombolytic embolism events. On the basis of our experience, we believe that to prevent rapid deterioration ofthe patient to fatal multi-organ embolism secondary to thrombolytic detachment it's advisable to perform systemic thrombolysis ratherthan surgery for a single occlusion which precludes the use of thrombolytic agents.

Clinical case: Fatal multi-organ left ventricular embolism in a patient with beta thalassemia major undergoing endovascular treatment for stenosis of the sub-renal abdominal aorta

CANTARELLA, Giovanni;LA CAMERA, Giuseppa;
2015-01-01

Abstract

Introduction: Beta thalassemia major is a hereditary anemia secondary to deficient production of the beta-globins in structurallynormal hemoglobin, with a consequent precocious destruction of red globules present in the circulation. Coagulation and cardiaccomplications due to the accumulation of iron are the main causes of death in these patients.Clinical case: The authors present a case of cardiac iron overload complicated by fatal multi-organ embolism due to a left ventricularthrombus in a beta-thalassemia major patient.Discussion: The presence of chronic hypercoagulability related to pro-thrombotic anomalies in beta-thalassemia major patientsmay be complicated by thrombolytic embolism events. On the basis of our experience, we believe that to prevent rapid deterioration ofthe patient to fatal multi-organ embolism secondary to thrombolytic detachment it's advisable to perform systemic thrombolysis ratherthan surgery for a single occlusion which precludes the use of thrombolytic agents.
2015
beta-thalassemia; echocardiography; thrombophilia
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
med2015_pag-1019-1021.pdf

accesso aperto

Licenza: Non specificato
Dimensione 79.25 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
79.25 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11769/36279
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 5
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 6
social impact