Observational study of iron overload as assessed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in an adult population of transfusion dependent patients with beta thalassaemia: Significant association between low cardiac T2 < 10 ms and the occurrence of cardiac events

dc.contributor.authorPatton, W.
dc.contributor.authorBrown, G.
dc.contributor.authorLeung, M.
dc.contributor.authorBavishi, K.
dc.contributor.authorTaylor, J.
dc.contributor.authorLloyd, J.
dc.contributor.authorLee, S.
dc.contributor.authorTay, L.
dc.contributor.authorWorthley, S.
dc.date.issued2010
dc.description.abstractBackground: Thalassaemia major patients usually die from cardiac haemosiderosis. Improved strategies are required to modify this risk. Aims: To assess the significance of cardiac iron overload in patients with β thalassaemia. Method: Observational study of cardiac iron overload as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cardiac T2* relaxometry in 30 adult patients with transfusion-dependent β thalassaemia. Results: 11/30 patients (37%) had cardiac T2* < 10 ms, 8/30 (27%) in range10–20 ms and 11/30 (37%) > 20 ms. There was significant inverse correlation between T2* values and values for serum ferritin (SF) and liver iron concentration (LIC) and positive correlation with left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF). Median LVEF values were 49% in patients with T2* < 10 ms and 58%in patients with T2* > 10 ms (P = 0.02). Very low T2* values <10 ms were strongly associated with the occurrence of cardiac events (congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, cardiac death): occurring in 5/11 patients with T2* < l0 ms and in 0/19 in patients with T2* > 10 ms (P = 0.003 Fisher’s exact test; P =0.002 log rank Kaplan-Meier time to event analysis). There was no significant association between T2* < 10 ms or cardiac events and traditional measures of iron overload, such as SF levels >2500 mg/L and LIC (evaluated at thresholds of >7or>15 mg/g dry weight). Conclusion: Very low cardiac T2* values <10 ms are common in adults with β thalassaemia and are significantly associated with risk of cardiac events. This permits the use of individually targeted chelation strategies which are more effective in removing cardiac iron.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityN. Patton, G. Brown, M. Leung, K. Bavishi, J. Taylor, J. Lloyd, S.-H. Lee, L. Tay and S. Worthley
dc.identifier.citationInternal Medicine Journal, 2010; 40(6):419-426
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/j.1445-5994.2009.01981.x
dc.identifier.issn1444-0903
dc.identifier.issn1445-5994
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/59664
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherBlackwell Publishing Asia
dc.rights© 2010 The Authors Journal compilation © 2010 Royal Australasian College of Physicians
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1111/j.1445-5994.2009.01981.x
dc.subjectmagnetic resonance imaging
dc.subjectbeta thalassaemia
dc.subjectiron overload
dc.subjectiron chelation
dc.titleObservational study of iron overload as assessed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in an adult population of transfusion dependent patients with beta thalassaemia: Significant association between low cardiac T2 < 10 ms and the occurrence of cardiac events
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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