A T2* magnetic resonance imaging study of pancreatic iron overload in thalassemia major.
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.
Au
Wing-Yan
WY
Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China. auwing@hotmail.com
Lam
Wynnie Wai-Man
WW
Chu
Winnie
W
Tam
Sidney
S
Wong
Wai-Keng
WK
Liang
Raymond
R
Ha
Shau-Yin
SY
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*
D002614:Chelating Agents; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron