Endothelial injury and altered hemodynamics in thalassemia

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Butthep, Punnee | Nuchprayoon, Issarang | Futrakul, Narisa^;

Affiliations: Hematology Division, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand | Department of Pediatrics, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand | Department of Physiology, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand

Note: [] Corresponding author. E‐mail: [email protected].

Abstract: Increased activated circulating endothelial cells, enhanced von Willebrand factor (vWF:Ag) and adhesion molecules (sVCAM‐1) are observed in patients with beta‐thalassemia/hemoglobin E. Such evidences of endothelial cell injury are associated with altered intrarenal hemodynamics with a significant reduction in renal plasma flow. Altered renal functions (namely depleted creatinine clearance) and abnormal tubular function test, which is reflected by abnormally increased fractional excretion of magnesium (FE Mg), are also delineated. The increased FE Mg implies tubulointerstitial injury which may relate to the microvascular endothelial injury and chronic ischemia.

Keywords: Thalassemia, endothelial cell injury, renal plasma flow, FE Mg, adhesion molecule

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 287-293, 2004