Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and their relation to premature atherosclerosis in β-thalassemia children

Premature atherosclerosis is common among young thalassemia children. Lp-PLA2 and TNF-α are significantly increased in thalassemia children and show strong correlations with cIMT, suggesting that both of them may be appreciated as modulating factors in carotid atherosclerosis pathophysiological process among these children.