T2* MRI in regularly transfused children with thalassemia intermedia: Serum ferritin does not reflect liver iron stores

Surekha Tony, Shahina Daar, Mohamed Elshinawy, Shoaib Al-Zadjaly, Murtadha Al-Khabori, Yasser Wali*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Nontransfused patients with thalassemia intermedia (TI) accumulate iron due to increased gastrointestinal absorption of iron. Recent studies using T2* MRI revealed that serum ferritin does not reflect the severity of iron overload in nontransfused TI patients. We evaluated the iron overload status in TI children on monthly transfusion. Based on serum ferritin levels, 11 such patients (mean age 13.18 ± 4.09 years), were classified into two groups, group 1 (six patients) and group 2 (five patients) with serum ferritin levels below and above 1000 ng/mL, respectively. T2* MRI assessments were done for evaluation of hepatic and cardiac iron status. Group 1 and group 2 had mean serum ferritin levels of 817.300 ± 244.690 ng/mL and 1983.80 ± 662.862 ng/mL, respectively (P .003). T2* MRI showed comparable moderate to severe hepatic iron overload status in both. None of the patients had myocardial iron deposition. We conclude that serum ferritin does not reflect the hepatic iron overload status in our patients with TI on regular transfusion.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)579-584
Number of pages6
JournalPediatric Hematology and Oncology
Volume29
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2012

Keywords

  • Children
  • Iron overload
  • MRI
  • Serum ferritin
  • T2
  • Thalassemia intermedia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Hematology
  • Oncology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'T2* MRI in regularly transfused children with thalassemia intermedia: Serum ferritin does not reflect liver iron stores'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this