Objective: In our country the incidence of β-thalassemia minor (TM) is 2.1 percent. In cases with IDA, and β-thalassemia major, electrocardiographic (ECG) signs reflecting cardiac autonomic dysfunction, and changes in depolarization, and repolarization differ widely. We haven’t encountered any study related to changes in ECG signs in the literature. So we wanted to investigate corrected QT (QTc), and QTc dispersion (QTcd) in cases with TM which demonstrate clinical manifestations in between IDA, and β-thalassemia major.

Material and Method: Study population consisted of Group 1 (TM; n: 15), Group 2 (IDA; n: 17), and Group 3 (healthy control; n:13). Mean ages of Groups 1, 2 and 3 were 10.2±17.4, 13.2±14.5, and 13.5±2.5 months, respectively. In all cases whole blood cell counts, levels of serum iron, iron binding capacity, and ferritin were evaluated, and hemoglobin electrophoresis was performed. Peak heart rate, RR, PR, QRS, QT, QTc and QTcd were calculated using 12-lead ECG. Groups in all 3 groups were compared as for all ECG variables.

Results: QTc intervals were estimated for TM 400 (200-450), IDA 410 (360-420), and healthy control groups 400 (380-440) msn as indicated. QTc intervals in cases diagnosed as TM were shorter relative to IDA, and healthy control groups. A statistically significant difference was detected between TM, and healthy control groups (p <0.05). QTc interval was statistically significantly difference in cases diagnosed as TM 40 (20-80) ms when compared with cases with IDA 40 (20-70) ms (p <0.05).

Conclusion: Changes in ECG tracings may occur not only in heart diseases, but also it may become manifest as a sign of myocardial ischemia due to anemia. In order to be able to explain some electrocardiographic changes in cases diagnosed as TM caused by etiological factors other than myocardial ischemia, and accumulation of iron, further studies should be carried out with greater number of patients.