<p>The present study evaluates carotid intimamedia thickness (CIMT) in children with β thalassemia major to assess atherosclerosis and its relation to the underlying proposed causative mechanisms <em>via</em> lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidized lowdensity lipoproteins (LDL), total antioxidant level, and lipid profile. A cross sectional study was conducted on 62 children (31 cases and 31 controls). CIMT by high resolution ultrasound and biochemical parameters <em>i.e.</em>, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins, LDL, Oxidized LDL, lipoprotein (a), lipid peroxidation product MDA and total antioxidant were measured in enrolled subjects and compared. In our study, CIMT was significantly increased in β thalassemia major patients’ as compared to healthy controls. Mean CIMT in cases was 0.69±0.11 mm and in controls 0.51±0.07 mm. Mean oxidized LDL (EU/mL) in cases 39.3±34.4 (range 14.4 to 160) was significantly raised (P=0.02, t test) as compared to controls 23.9±13.4 (range 12 to 70). In our study we found MDA levels (nmol/mL) to be increased in β thalassemia patients as compared to controls. Mean MDA was 10.0±3.27 (4.41 to 17.48) in cases while in controls was 6.87±4.55 (1.5 to 17.9). Our study results show CIMT as an early marker of atherogenesis in β thalassemia major. Oxidative stress markers are also increased in β thalassemia major patients and lipoprotein (a) shows a positive correlation with CIMT. The present study points towards various atherogenetic mechanisms in β thalassemia major.</p><p> </p><p>本研究评价β重型地中海贫血患儿颈动脉内膜中层厚度（CIMT），以评估动脉粥样硬化，以及与潜在通过血脂过氧化反应产物丙二醛（MDA）、氧化低密度脂蛋白（LDL）、总抗氧化水平和血脂谱所提出致病机制之间的关系。 在62名儿童（31例病例和31例对照）中进行了一项横断面研究。 在入组受试者中通过高分辨率超声和生化指标（即总胆固醇、甘油三酯、高密度脂蛋白、LDL、氧化LDL，脂蛋白（a）、血脂过氧化产物MDA和总抗氧化剂）测量CIMT并进行比较。 在我们的研究中，CIMT在β重型地中海贫血患者中比健康对照组显著增加。 病例组中的平均CIMT为0.69±0.11 mm，对照组0.51±0.07 mm。病例组中平均氧化LDL（EU/mL）为39.3±34.4（从14.4到160的范围）与对照组的23.9±13.4（12至70的范围）相比显著升高（P = 0.02，t检验）。 在我们的研究中，我们发现β地中海贫血患者中的MDA水平（nmol/mL）比对照组更高。 病例组中的平均MDA为10.0±3.27（4.41至17.48），而对照组为6.87±4.55（1.5到17.9）。 我们的研究结果表明，CIMT是β重型地中海贫血动脉粥样硬化的早期标记物。 氧化应激标记物在β重型地中海贫血患者中也有增加，脂蛋白（a）显示出与CIMT呈正相关。 本研究针对β重型地中海贫血中的各种动脉粥样硬化机制。</p>
Carotid intima-media thickness and oxidative stress markers for assessment of atherosclerosis in children with β thalassemia major
