TABLE 1.
Clinical and biochemical parameters of the study groups
| Control (n = 30) | β-TI (n = 25) | β-TM (n = 35) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (yrs) | 33 ± 9 | 36 ± 12 | 27 ± 7 |
| Male sex, n (%) | 16 (53) | 16 (64) | 17 (49) |
| Body surface area (m ) | 1.71 ± 0.19 | 1.67 ± 0.16 | 1.66 ± 0.18 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 111 ± 12 | 111 ± 20 | 106 ± 13 |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 67 ± 8 | 67 ± 12 | 68 ± 7 |
| Heart rate (beats/minute) | 74 ± 10 | 80 ± 8 | 74 ± 10 |
| Smoking, n (%) | 14 (40) | 13 (52) | 14 (40) |
| Hb, pretransfusional (mg/dl) | 13.6 ± 1.4 | 9.3 ± 1.0a | 10.3 ± 0.9a |
| Serum ferritin over the last year (ng/ml) | 122 ± 65d | 1568 ± 1343a | 1975 ± 1635a |
| Splenectomy, n (%) | 0 | 10 (40) | 6 (17) |
| Hepatitis C, active or healed, n (%) | 0 | 4 (16) | 12 (34) |
| History of hypothyroidism, n (%) | 0 | 12 (48) | 15 (42) |
| History of hypoparathyroidism, n (%) | 0 | 8 (32) | 6 (17) |
| History of hypogonadism, n (%) | 0 | 9 (36) | 14 (40) |
| Glucose (mg/dl) | 94 ± 14 | 98 ± 12 | 99 ± 13 |
| Aspartate aminotransferase (U/l) | 19 ± 6 | 31 ± 11b | 41 ± 22bc |
| Alanine aminotransferase (U/l) | 21 ± 11 | 44 ± 21b | 54 ± 39bc |
| Total cholesterol (mg/dl) | 196 ± 41 | 144 ± 49a | 120 ± 34a |
| LDL-cholesterol (mg/dl) | 130 ± 40 | 70 ± 36a | 61 ± 27a |
| HDL-cholesterol (mg/dl) | 51 ± 14 | 31 ± 11a | 32 ± 10a |
| LDL-cholesterol / HDL-cholesterol | 2.5 ± 0.4 | 2.2 ± 0.3a | 1.9 ± 0.2a |
| Triglycerides (mg/dl) | 82 ± 39 | 204 ± 80a | 155 ± 61a |
| Lp(a) (mg/dl) | 8 (1-24) | 10 (4-28) | 6 (1-26) |
| IL-6 (pg/ml) | 1.3 ± 0.9 | 2.4 ± 0.8b | 3.3 ± 1.5bc |
| TNF-α (pg/ml) | 1.8 ± 0.7 | 2.6 ± 0.9b | 3.5 ± 1.5bc |
| Total plasma Lp-PLA2 activity (nmol/ml/min) | 43 ± 5 | 88 ± 17a | 113 ± 20ac |
| Total plasma Lp-PLA2 mass (ng/ml) | 250 ± 53 | 665 ± 99a | 869 ± 96ac |
| HDL-Lp-PLA2 activity (nmol/ml/min) | 3.8 ± 0.8 | 12.9 ± 4.9a | 18.1 ± 4.8ac |
| HDL-Lp-PLA2 mass (ng/ml) | 84 ± 21 | 331 ± 36a | 476 ± 45ac |
Values are means ± SD, except for Lp(a), where the value represents the median (range). β-TI, β-thalassemia intermedia; β-TM, β-thalassemia major; HDL-Lp-PLA2, HDL-associated Lp-PLA2; IL-6; interleukin-6; Lp-PLA2; lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α.
a
P < 0.001 compared with control values.
b
P < 0.01 compared with control values.
c
P < 0.01 compared with β-TI patients.
d
Single measurement for each control subject.