title: Variability in hepatic iron concentration in percutaneous needle biopsy specimens from patients with transfusional hemosiderosis.
abstract: In patients with sickle cell disease or beta-thalassemia receiving RBC transfusions for a long period, a precise knowledge of the liver iron concentration (LIC) is essential for treatment. Patients underwent LIC and liver pathology assessment by duplicate biopsies in 2 passes from the same local liver site. Fresh tissue cores in trace element-free containers and tissues from dissolved paraffin-embedded cores were analyzed. LIC measurements in each of 2 paraffin-embedded cores did not differ significantly (median, 12,455 vs 12,153 microg/g dry weight; n = 29). A significant difference was observed when 1 fresh tissue sample and 1 paraffin-embedded core were analyzed (median, 11,716 vs 12,864 microg/g dry weight; n = 16; P < .001) with a median disagreement between LIC measurements of 23.0%. We found high agreement in LICs between liver biopsy specimens processed by the paraffin-embedding technique but overestimation of LICs in comparison with desiccated fresh tissue samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland, CA 94609, USA.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Butensky
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hudes
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Moyer
authors.forename: Elliott
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vichinsky
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Harmatz
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006486:Hemosiderosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016612:Paraffin Embedding
chemical_list: D007501:Iron