Assessment of Cystatin C in Adult β Thalassemia Patients as a Marker of Subclinical Cardiovascular Dysfunction

Abstract Background Beta-thalassemia syndromes are a group of hereditary blood disorders characterized by reduced or absent beta globin chain synthesis, resulting in reduced Hb in red blood cells (RBC), decreased RBC production and anemia. Cardiovascular complications in patients with beta thalassemia such as cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia are considered the most common cause of death in those patients. Cystatin C is a popular marker of nephropathy in sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia that has been recently used for prediction of subclinical cardiovascular dysfunction in patients with or without renal affection. Aim of the Work This study aimed to assess the role of serum cystatin C in adult patients with beta thalassemia as a predictor of subclinical cardiovascular dysfunction. Patients and Methods The study was a case control study including 50 beta thalassemia patients and 50 age and sex matched healthy controls. Serum cystatin c was assessed by ELISA in both patients and controls. Results our study found highly significant serum cystatin c level in beta thalassemia patients in comparison with the control group with p value < 0.001. there was statistically significant correlation between the level of serum cystatin c and cardiovascular dysfunction in thalassemic patients with p value=0.038. Conclusion There was statistically significant correlation between the level of serum cystatin C and cardiovascular dysfunction in thalassemic patients making serum cystatin C an encouraging factor for the prediction of subclinical cardiovascular dysfunction in beta thalassemia patients.