Value of MRI T2*in quantification of visceral iron deposition in patients with β-thalassemia major / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the value of MRI T2*quantification of visceral iron deposition in patients with β-thalassemia major. Methods A total of one hundred and two patients with β-thalassemia major were retrospectively analyzed. They underwent genetic testing and the cardiac and (or) abdominal MRI scanning. Among them, 47 patients underwent splenectomy operation, 95 patients underwent cardiac MRI scanning, 102 underwent abdominal MRI scanning for their livers, pancreases and kidneys, and 55 underwent splenic MRI scanning. The T2* values of the hearts, livers, pancreases and kidneys were measured, meanwhile the liver iron concentrations (LIC) were measured. The levels of serum ferritin (SF) patients were measured in 81 patients. The Spearman rank correlation was employed to analyze the relationship between SF, LIC, age and each organs T2* values. Independent sample t test (normal distribution) or the Mann- Whitney U test (non-normal distribution) were used to compare the hepatic, cardiac, renal and splenic T2* values differences between patients with splenectomy and those without. Results Serum ferritin were highly positively correlated with LIC, moderately correlatied with age, moderately negatively correlated with hepatic and pancreatic T2* values, with r values of 0.833, 0.537,-0.623 and -0.403, respectively (P0.05). The hepatic and pancreatic T2*values were reduced (P0.05). Conclusions The patients with β-thalassemia major have prone to suffer from excessive iron deposition in the heart and abdominal organs. The technology of MRI quantification of T2*values could reflect the body iron overload.