Abstract
The mechanism of the well observed hypercoagulability and high incidence of Thromboembolic Events (TE) in β-thalassemia patients has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate evaluate the endothelial dysfunction and monocyte activation among adult Egyptian β-thalassemic patients and assess their role in the hypercoagulability and development of TE. A total of 40 adults patients with bthalassemics and 20 healthy age and sex-matched controls were assessed for endothelial dysfunction using serum Von Willebrand Factor Antigen (VWFAg) and for monocytic activation using flow cytometric assessment of CD14 monocyte microparticles and CD11b activated monocytes. The VWF:Ag level was significantly higher among thalassemic patients (p < 0.001) and was positively correlated to development of TE (p < 0.05). There was no significance difference for CD14 between patients and controls (p > 0.5) and CD11b was higher in controls (p = 0.004) with no significant correlation between both and TE development (p > 0.05). VWF:Ag is increased in thalassemic patients and could be used as a risk factor for thrombosis in these patients, while no identified role of activated monocytes in thrombotic tendency in such patients.