Assessment of Pancreatic Iron Overload in Transfusion Dependent Thalassemic Patients

Advances in the management of transfusion dependent thalassemic patients have improved the survival of these patients. The most important consequence of repeated and frequent transfusions is iron accumulation in vital organs. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive and valid technique for the estimation of iron stores. Despite multiple studies about cardiac and liver MRI T2*, there is limited experience about pancreatic MRI. Although there is a weak correlation between hepatic and pancreatic siderosis, MRI assessment of iron deposition in the pancreas can reduce cardiac morbidity. Pancreatic siderosis may be a predictor for the development of glucose dysregulation. Pancreatic R2* > 100 Hz is a risk factor for glucose intolerance or even overt diabetes. Splenectomy can accentuate the pancreatic iron overload. Early intensive chelation therapy in thalassemia patients can reverse glucose metabolism impairment. In this review, the MRI assessment of pancreatic iron overload in transfusion dependent thalassemia, the correlation between pancreas with liver and myocardial hemosiderosis and the importance of pancreatic iron overload in pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus in these patients were discussed.