Author/Authors :
Azarkeivan, A. High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine - Transfusion Research Center, ايران , Hashemieh, M. shahid beheshti university of medical sciences - Imam HosseinMedical Center, تهران, ايران , Akhlaghpoor, S. tehran university of medical sciences tums - Sina Hospital, تهران, ايران , Shirkavand, A. tehran university of medical sciences tums, تهران, ايران , Yaseri, M. tehran university of medical sciences tums - School of Public Health and Institute of Public Health Researches, تهران, ايران , Sheibani, K. shahid beheshti university of medical sciences - Clinical Research and Development Center, Imam Hossein Medical Center, تهران, ايران
Abstract :
There is a need for higly accurate non-invasive methods for assessing organ iron content in thalassaemia patients. This study evaluated the relation between serum ferritin level, liver enzyme levels and hepatitis C antibody and liver and heart iron deposition assessed by MRI T2*. Data were obtained from the medical records of 156 thalassemia major patients in Tehran. There was a moderate negative correlation between serum ferritin and liver MRI T2* relaxation time (r = –0.535) and a weak negative correlation between serum ferritin and heart MRI T2* relaxation time (r = –0.361). Hepatitis C infection and liver enzyme levels did not confound or modify the relation between ferritin and liver or heart MRI T2*. Liver and heart MRI T2* readings were poorly correlated (r = 0. 281). Routine evaluation of liver and heart iron content using MRI T2* is suggested to better evaluate the haemosiderosis status in thalassemia patients.
