Relation between serum ferritin and liver and heart MRI T2* in beta thalassaemia major patients

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