Abstract
The hematologic disorder β-thalassemia major is relatively common in Southern Italy.
Stroke is a well described, though infrequently reported, complication of this disorder.
We now report our experience regarding 300 children with β-thalassemia major examined
at the University of Catania, Italy, over a 20-year period. We encountered 9 patients
(3 %; 3 males, 6 females) with β-thalassemia major who had hemorrhagic stroke. Two
groups of patients can be identified: group 1 (2 patients 22 %) with early-onset post-transfusion
hemorrhage and group 2 (7 patients 77 %) with delayed post-transfusion hemorrhage.
In the first group, the hemorrhage occurred within 48 hours following blood transfusion.
In the second group, hemorrhage occurred 7-15 days from last transfusion. In 5 patients
out of 7 of this second group the first transfusion and ictal event both occurred
after age five, suggesting prolonged chronic anemia might play a role in the hemorrhage.
Key words
Thalassemia - Stroke - Neurological complications
