title: Diagnosis and management of transfusion iron overload: the role of imaging.
abstract: The characterization of iron stores is important to prevent and treat iron overload. Serum markers such as ferritin, serum iron, iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation, and nontransferrin-bound iron can be used to follow trends in iron status; however, variability in these markers limits predictive power for any given individual. Liver iron represents the best single marker of total iron balance. Measures of liver iron include biopsy, superconducting quantum interference device, computer tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI is the most accurate and widely available noninvasive tool to assess liver iron. The main advantages of MRI include a low-rate of variability between measurements and the ability to assess iron loading in endocrine tissues, the heart and the liver. This manuscript describes the principles, validation, and clinical utility of MRI for tissue iron estimation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology and Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90027, USA. jwood@chla.usc.edu
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity*; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007501:Iron