Cardiac complications in thalassemia major.

Thalassemia major is characterized by chronic ineffective erythropoiesis and anemia as its primary problems. These, in turn, produce physiologic adaptations in the cardiovascular system as well as pathologic/iatrogenic processes such as iron overload, splenectomy, nutritional deficiencies, chronic oxidative stress, and lung disease. This article discusses the pathophysiology of thalassemia as it relates to the cardiovascular system, the mechanisms and monitoring of iron cardiomyopathy, pulmonary hypertension, and vascular aging in thalassemia patients.