Relation Between Β-Thalassemia and Atherosclerosis

Abstract

β-thalassemia is prevalent in Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Asian populations, with clinical forms ranging from asymptomatic carriers to severe transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia major. Advances in transfusion therapy and iron chelation have improved life expectancy, but long-term survivors face complications such as endocrinopathies, liver disease, and cardiac dysfunction. Atherosclerosis, a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity worldwide, is characterized by endothelial injury, lipid accumulation, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the arterial wall. In β-thalassemia, chronic hemolysis, elevated oxidative stress, abnormal lipid profiles, and iron-mediated endothelial damage may interact with traditional cardiovascular risk factors, altering the trajectory of atherosclerotic disease. Understanding this relationship is important for early detection and targeted prevention strategies.