title: [Value of magnetic resonance imaging T2* tests in detecting heart and liver iron overload in patients with β-thalassemia major].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the value of magnetic resonance imaging T2* tests in the detection of myocardial and liver iron overload in patients with β-thalassemia major (β-TM).
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2010 to 2011, 28 β-TM patients over 10 years old under blood transfusion therapy and chelation care with serum ferritin (SF)>1000 µg/L underwent myocardial and liver MRI T2* tests on a voluntary basis. The results were analyzed in relation with age, SF, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen out of the 28 cases (50%) were found to have myocardial iron overload, including 7 severe cases, 2 moderate cases, and 5 mild cases. All the 28 cases had liver iron overload, including 2 mild cases, 7 moderate cases, and 19 severe cases. Two out of the 28 cases had lowered LVEF (7.14%), and one of them had severe myocardial iron overload. There was a negative correlation between myocardial MRI T2* and SF (r=-0.479, P=0.01). Myocardial MRI T2* was positively correlated with liver MRI T2* (r=0.378, P=0.047). Age was not significantly correlated with SF, LVEF, or liver MRI T2*.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Magnetic resonance imaging (T2*) detection is an effective and non-invasive means for detecting myocardial and liver iron overload in patients with β-thalassemia major receiving blood transfusion. T2* combined with SF is the main diagnostic indicator to assess iron overload in the vital organs.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. xuedongwu@163.com
authors: Xuedong
authors: X
authors: Wu
authors: Yuanfang
authors: Y
authors: Jing
authors: Fuyu
authors: F
authors: Pei
authors: Jiaqi
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: Xiaoqin
authors: X
authors: Feng
authors: Yuelin
authors: Y
authors: He
authors: Yuming
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Chunfu
authors: C
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron