Partial radiofrequency ablation of the spleen in thalassemia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficiency of partial radiofrequency ablation of the spleen in patients with thalassemia major and intermedia.


METHODS
Partial radiofrequency ablation of the spleen was performed in 19 thalassemic patients (10 females, nine males) with a mean age of 12.7 years (age range, 7-30 years). This group of patients consisted of 11 patients with thalassemia major and nine with thalassemia intermedia. The procedure was performed under intravenous sedation and was complete in 29-35 min.


RESULTS
The ratio of the ablated volume to the whole spleen ranged from 5.3% to 23% (mean, 9.83 ± 5.56%). A significant increase was found in the platelet count after radiofrequency ablation of the spleen (P = 0.002). No statistically significant difference was found in hemoglobin levels (P = 0.171) or transfusion intervals (P = 0.054) before and after radiofrequency ablation. Additionally, no statistically significant relationship was observed between the ablation ratio and hemoglobin levels (P = 0.233) and between the ablation ratio and transfusion interval (P = 0.822). No major complication occurred due to this interventional procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
A single percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of the spleen reduces thrombocytopenia in thalassemic patients with splenomegaly but does not change the hemoglobin levels or transfusion intervals.
Department of Pediatrics, Imam Hossein Medical Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Mozhgan
M
Hashemieh
Shahram
S
Akhlaghpoor
Azita
A
Azarkeivan
Alireza
A
Azizahari
Afshan
A
Shirkavand
Kourosh
K
Sheibani
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D055815:Young Adult; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*
D003287:Contrast Media