Abstract
Pulmonary infarction is an entity of medical significance that develops concurrently in beta-thalassemia but not in alpha-thalassemia. The reason for this difference is yet to be elucidated. We have evaluated a 21-year-old male alpha-thalassemia-2 patient who had profound microcytic anemia and pulmonary infarction. Analysis of the alpha-globin gene revealed -alpha3.7/alpha alpha genotype. His mother also had the same heterozygous gene deletion, though she had neither anemia nor pulmonary infarction. Since the patient had no other predisposition to pulmonary infarction, it is suggested that there is a close etiologic relationship between morphologic abnormality of the erythrocytes caused by alpha-thalassemia-2 and development of pulmonary infarction.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Butthep P, Bunyaratvej A, Funahara Y, et al. (1997) Possible evidence of endothelial cell activation and disturbance in thalassemia: an in vitro study. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 28 Suppl 3:141–148
Cohen A, Galanello R, Pennel DJ, Cunningham MJ, Vichinsky E (2004) Thalassemia. Hematology (Am Soc Hematol Educ Program) 14–34
Eldor A, Rachmilewitz EA (2002) The hypercoagulable state in thalassemia. Blood 99:36–43
Eldor A, Maclouf J, Lellouche F, et al. (1993) A chronic hypercoagulable state and life-long platelet activation in beta thalassemia major. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 24 Suppl 1:92–95
Eldor A, Durst R, Hy-Am E, et al. (1999) A chronic hypercoagulable state in patients with beta-thalassemia major is already present in chüdhood. Br J Haematol 107:739–746
Gillis S, Cappellini MD, Goldfarb A, et al. (1999) Pulmonary thromboembolism in thalassemia intermedia patients. Haematologica 84:957–958
Gladwin MT, Sachdev V, Jison ML, et al. (2004) Pulmonary hypertension as risk factor for death in patients with sickle cell disease. N Engl J Med 350:886–895
Isarangkura P, Chantarojanasiri T, Hathirat P, Pintadit P, Suwanjutha S (1993) Pulmonary and platelet function in mild form of Hb H disease. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 24 Suppl 1:210–212
Kuypers FA, Yuan J, Lewis RA, et al. (1998) Membrane phospholipid asymmetry in human thalassemia. Blood 91:3044–3051
Michaeli J, Mittelman M, Grisaru D, Rachmilewitz EA (1992) Thromboembolic complication in beta thalassemia major. Acta Hematol 87:71–74
Shinar E, Rachmilewitz E (1990) Oxidative denaturation of red blood cells in thalassemia. Semin Hematol 27:70–82
van Teunenbroek A, Wijburg FA, ten Cate JW, van den Berg W, Weening RS (1989) Thromboembolic complications in an asplenic HbE-beta-thalassernia patient. Neth J Med 35:123–127
Winichagoon P, Fucharoen S, Wasi P (1981) Increased circulating platelet aggregates in thalassaemia. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 12:556–560
Acknowledgment
The authors are grateful to Ms. Reiko Hayashi for linguistic help.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hayashi, S., Matsuoka, H., Harano, T. et al. A Case of Alpha-Thalassemia-2 Associated with Pulmonary Infarction. Lung 184, 223–227 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-005-2587-7
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-005-2587-7