Zamani F, Razmjou S, Akhlaghpoor S, Eslami SM, Azarkeivan A, Amiri A. T2* magnetic resonance imaging of the liver in thalassemic patients in Iran. World J Gastroenterol 2011; 17(4): 522-525 [PMID: 21274383 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i4.522]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Dr. Farhad Zamani, Associate Professor, Gastroenterology and Liver Disease Research Center, Firouzgar Hospital, Valadi Street, Valiasr Square, Tehran 0098-3137875661, Iran. zamani.farhad@gmail.com
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Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Jan 28, 2011; 17(4): 522-525 Published online Jan 28, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i4.522
T2* magnetic resonance imaging of the liver in thalassemic patients in Iran
Farhad Zamani, Sara Razmjou, Shahram Akhlaghpoor, Seyyedeh-Masoomeh Eslami, Azita Azarkeivan, Afsaneh Amiri
Farhad Zamani, Sara Razmjou, Afsaneh Amiri, Gastroenterology and Liver Disease Research Center, Firoozgar Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 0098-3137875661, Iran
Shahram Akhlaghpoor, Department of Computed Tomography, Noor Medical Imaging Center, Tehran 0098-3137875661, Iran
Azita Azarkeivan, Research center of Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization, Tehran 0098-3137875661, Iran
Author contributions: Zamani F designed the study; Zamani F, Akhlaghpour S, Eslami SM and Azarkeyvan A performed the research; Razmjou S, Akhlaghpour S and Amiri A analyzed the data and wrote the paper.
Supported by The Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease Research Center of Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Correspondence to: Dr. Farhad Zamani, Associate Professor, Gastroenterology and Liver Disease Research Center, Firouzgar Hospital, Valadi Street, Valiasr Square, Tehran 0098-3137875661, Iran. zamani.farhad@gmail.com
Telephone: +98-21-1547311 Fax: +98-21-88942622
Received: August 18, 2010 Revised: September 27, 2010 Accepted: October 3, 2010 Published online: January 28, 2011
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the accuracy of T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI T2*) in the evaluation of iron overload in beta-thalassemia major patients.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 210 patients with beta-thalassemia major having regular blood transfusions were consecutively enrolled. Serum ferritin levels were measured, and all patients underwent MRI T2* of the liver. Liver biopsy was performed in 53 patients at an interval of no longer than 3 mo after the MRIT2* in each patient. The amount of iron was assessed in both MRI T2* and liver biopsy specimens of each patient.
RESULTS: Patients’ ages ranged from 8 to 54 years with a mean of 24.59 ± 8.5 years. Mean serum ferritin level was 1906 ± 1644 ng/mL. Liver biopsy showed a moderate negative correlation with liver MRI T2* (r = -0.573, P = 0.000) and a low positive correlation with ferritin level (r = 0.350, P = 0.001). Serum ferritin levels showed a moderate negative correlation with liver MRI T2* values (r = -0.586, P = 0.000).
CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that MRI T2* is a non-invasive, safe and reliable method for detecting iron load in patients with iron overload.
