Abstract
BackgroundIron deposition distorts the local magnetic field exerting T2* signal decay. Biopsy, serum ferritin, echocardiography are not reliable to adjust iron chelation therapy. Quantified MRI signal decay can replace biopsy to diagnose iron burden, guide treatment, and follow up. The objective of this study is to evaluate the role of T2* in quantification of the liver and heart iron burden in thalassemia major patients. This cross-sectional study included 44 thalassemia patients who were referred to MRI unit, underwent T2* MRI.ResultsTwenty-one male (47.7%) and 23 female (52.3%) were included (age range 6–15 years, mean age 10.9 ± 2.9 years). Patients with excess hepatic iron show the following: 11/40 (27.5%) mild, (13/40) 32.5% moderate, and (14/40) 35% severe liver iron overload. High statistical significance regarding association between LIC and liver T2* (p = 0.000) encountered. Cardiac T2* values showed no relationship with age (p = 0.6).ConclusionT2* is a good method to quantify, monitor hepatic and myocardial iron burden, guiding chelation therapy and prevent iron-induced cardiac complications.
Highlights
Iron deposition distorts the local magnetic field exerting T2* signal decay
Thalassemia major (TM) patients require regular blood transfusions which may lead to iron overload
Instead of measuring the serum ferritin level to take a tissue biopsy to diagnose iron overload, T2* can be used as a noninvasive method [6]
Summary
Iron deposition distorts the local magnetic field exerting T2* signal decay. Biopsy, serum ferritin, echocardiography are not reliable to adjust iron chelation therapy. Quantified MRI signal decay can replace biopsy to diagnose iron burden, guide treatment, and follow up. The objective of this study is to evaluate the role of T2* in quantification of the liver and heart iron burden in thalassemia major patients. This cross-sectional study included 44 thalassemia patients who were referred to MRI unit, underwent T2* MRI. Thalassemia major (TM) patients require regular blood transfusions which may lead to iron overload. Instead of measuring the serum ferritin level (a metalloprotein found in the cells) to take a tissue biopsy to diagnose iron overload, T2* can be used as a noninvasive method [6]. T2* is useful in tailoring the iron chelation strategies [7, 8]
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