Magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of iron overload: a comparison of MRI, echocardiography and serum ferritin level in patients with β-thalassemia major

Clin Imaging. 2012 Sep-Oct;36(5):483-8. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2011.11.029. Epub 2012 Jun 8.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate iron levels in cardiac and hepatic tissues using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2*.

Methods: Cardiac and hepatic MRI was performed for 93 patients with β-thalassemia major.

Results: Cardiac T2* was in the range of 2.9-56.6 ms. Myocardial siderosis was detected in 44% of patients; 25 patients had moderate and severe siderosis with serum ferritin level (SFL) of 576-10,284 ng/ml. There was a significant correlation between SFL and cardiac T2* (p<.001).

Conclusions: The effective role of MRI as a noninvasive producible method in measurement of iron concentration in tissues is not accessible with conventional techniques.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Biopsy
  • Chelation Therapy
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Child
  • Echocardiography*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Ferritins / blood*
  • Hepatitis C / complications
  • Humans
  • Iron Overload / blood
  • Iron Overload / diagnosis*
  • Iron Overload / diagnostic imaging
  • Iron Overload / therapy
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Treatment Outcome
  • beta-Thalassemia / blood*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Ferritins