Association between serum ferritin level, cardiac and hepatic T2-star MRI in patients with major β-thalassemia

Frequent blood transfusion is often associated with iron overload. Proper use of iron chelators to treat iron overload requires an accurate measurement of iron levels. Magnetic resonance T2-star (T2* MRI) can measure iron level in the heart and liver. Our goal was to see whether an association exists between serum ferritin level and T2* MRI in patients with major beta thalassemia. Sixty patients with a diagnosis of major beta thalassemia were enrolled in the study. They were older than five years old and needed regular transfusion. Cardiac and hepatic T2*MRI and mean serum ferritin levels were measured within 3 months. No significant correlation was observed between serum ferritin level and cardiac T2*MRI (p=0.361, r=-0.120).However, a significant correlation was observed between serum ferritin and liver T2*MRI (p=0.021, r=-0.297). Our results showed an association between hepatic T2*MRI and serum ferritin level.