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A paucity of thalassemia trait in Italian men with myocardial infarction.

We studied the prevalence of thalassemia trait in a group of Italian male myocardial infarction (MI) patients and an ethnically similar group of men admitted for other conditions. Italian men constituted approximately 13% of each group. Of 359 Italian men with a MI, only 2 had thalassemia trait. In contrast, of 330 adult Italian males in the non-MI group (mean age 59.6 years), 11 had thalassemia trait. Because the frequency of thalassemia trait was significantly (p less than 0.01) lower in the myocardial infarct group, we conclude that thalassemia trait may be a protective attribute as regards MI. A prospective study of individuals with thalassemia minor is indicated to elucidate the mechanism for the observed protective effect and to determine what risk factors may offset the protective effect in those that do experience MI.