title: A T2* magnetic resonance imaging study of pancreatic iron overload in thalassemia major.
abstract: We studied the utility of pancreatic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 72 thalassemia major patients (21 diabetic, 51 normoglycemic). Diabetic patients were significantly older (p<0.0001) and had smaller pancreas volume (p<0.0001). The two groups were comparable for ferritin and MRI-T2* heart, liver and pancreas. Pancreatic T2* signals were abnormal in 80% of both groups, and correlated with heart T2*. In normoglycemic patients, cardiac T2* and log-pancreatic T2* values correlated with homeostatic model assessments HOMA-B (beta cell reserve), HOMA-IR (insulin resistance) and fasting insulin/C-peptide levels. This suggested that improved chelation may improve beta cell reserve and prevent pancreatic atrophy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China. auwing@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Wing-Yan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Au
authors.forename: Wynnie Wai-Man
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Winnie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Sidney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: Wai-Keng
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Shau-Yin
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron