Hepatic and cardiac and iron overload detected by T2 magnetic resonance (MRI) in patients with myelodisplastic syndrome: A cross-sectional study

Transfusion-dependent anemia and iron overload are associatedwith reduced survival in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of hepatic and cardiac overload in patients with MDS as measured by T2* magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and its correlation with survival. MDS or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia patients had iron overload evaluated by T2* MRI. HIO was considered when hepatic iron concentration ≥ 2 g/mg. Cardiac iron overload was considered with a T2*-value < 20 ms. Among 71 patients analyzed, median hepatic iron concentration was 3.9 g/mg (range 0.9-16 g/mg), and 68%of patients had hepatic iron overload. Patients with hepatic iron overload had higher mean ferritin levels (1182 ng/mL versus 185 ng/mL, p