title: Serum Ferritin Levels Correlation With Heart and Liver MRI and LIC in Patients With Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Iron-loaded cardiac complication is the essential cause of mortality in patients with thalassemia. Early detection and treatment of cardiac over-load can reduce mortality.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current study aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum ferritin levels and T2* magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of heart and liver and liver iron concentration (LIC) to diagnose iron over load in countries with limited access.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the current cross-sectional study, 85 Iranian patients with thalassemia with the mean age of 22.7 ± 7 years were randomly selected. All patients were on regular blood transfusion. Echocardiography of heart and liver T2* MRI, determination of serum ferritin levels, and LIC were performed in all subjects at the same time. The correlation of serum ferritin levels with T2*MRI of heart and liver, and LIC was assessed. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Abnormal myocardial iron load (T2* MRI < 20 ms) was detected in 58% of the patients and among whom, 36% had severe myocardial iron load (T2* MRI < 10 ms). Median and interquartile range of serum ferritin levels were 1434 and 2702 respectively in patients with thalassemia. Serum ferritin levels showed a statistically significant positive correlation with LIC (rs = 0.718, P < 0.001) and significant negative correlation with T2* Heart (rs = -0.329, P = 0.002), and T2* Liver (rs = -0.698, P < 0.001). However, Ejection fraction was not significantly correlated with serum ferritin levels in the patients (P = 0.399).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum ferritin levels can be used to diagnose iron over-load in patients with thalassemiaas an alternative method in areas where T2* MRI is not available.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Majd
authors.affiliation: Hematology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Sezaneh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haghpanah
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Gholam Hossein
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Ajami
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matin
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Namazi
authors.affiliation: Department of Library and Information Science, College of Humanities, Khouzestan Sciences and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Marzieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bardestani
authors.affiliation: Hematology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mehran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karimi
keywords: Beta-thalassemia; Ferritin; Heart; Liver; Magnetic Resonance Imaging