Detection of Iron in Liver and Myocardial by Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive modality used to detect the iron overload in the liver and myocardial . The aim of the current study was to assess both Liver Iron Concentration (LIC) and Myocardium Iron Concentration (MIC) for thalassemia major patients using MRI. Methods and sample: The current study dealt with 70 thalassemia patients aged 11-31y. 20 of them, do not suffer from heart disease and do not have a satisfactory history of blood transfusion. cardiac and liver T2* MRI and Serum Ferritin estimation was done for all subjects. Measurements were obtained using (a 1.5T MRI Philips Ingenia ), at the Radiology Department in Hebron Governmental Hospital. Results: The mean Serum Ferritin (SF) among participants was 2150 ng/ml (SD 2179ng/ml). Significant correlation was found in participants between LIC, mean 15mg/g, (dry weight), and SF levels (r = 0.522; p < 0.001), and also significant but weaker correlation was found in patients between MIC, mean 1.3mg/g. (dry weight), and SF levels (r=0.483; p<0.001). Seventeen participants (34%) had a SF of <1000 ng/ml. Of them, 11 and 3 participants respectively had LIC and MIC more than normal range. Conclusions: The relaxation rates R2 (1/T2) and R2* (1/T2*) measured by MRI is a valuable non-invasive tool for quantification of liver and myocardium iron deposition in patients with thalassemia major