RESUMO
Background/Objectives Haptoglobin (Hp) is an antioxidant protein. Its genotypic polymorphism had been proposed to influence vascular complications among diabetics, but no data are available about this association among thalassemia patients so far. We have investigated the assumption of an association between Hp genotypes and subclinical atherosclerosis among beta-thalassemia major (TM) children. Methods One hundred beta-TM children and 70 matched healthy controls were included. Serum ferritin level and fasting lipid profile were assayed. Haptoglobin genotyping was determined by amplification gel electrophoresis. Carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) was measured using high resolution ultrasound. Results The relative distribution of the three Hp genotypes among thalassemia group and the control group were 18 and 14.3% for Hp1-1; 38 and 37.1% for Hp2-1; and 44 and 48.6% for Hp2-2 respectively. There was no significant difference between patients and controls regarding Hp genotypes distribution. Hp2-2 genotype TM children had significantly higher cIMT compared to other genotypes (P < 0.0001). Elevated cIMT was significantly represented in Hp2-2 genotype patients (P < 0.0001) who had higher serum ferritin compared to their counterparts (P < 0.05). Hp2-2 patients were five times more likely to suffer from subclinical atherosclerosis than Hp1-1 and six times than Hp2-1 genotype patients (P = 0.008 and 0.001, respectively); a difference that persisted significant after adjustment for some risk factors compared to Hp2-1 patients (OR 3.96; P = 0.02). Conclusions Hp2-2 genotype is a significant predictor for premature atherosclerosis in TM children and confers them an increased risk for iron overload.