Correlation of Liver and Myocardium Iron Concentration Determined by Magnetic Resonance Imaging With Serum Ferritin in Non-Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia Patients

Background The primary factor associated with fatality in thalassemia patients is heavy cardiac complications. Currently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is accepted as the non-invasive modality of choice for diagnosing iron overload in the liver. This study aimed to correlate liver iron concentration (LIC) and myocardium iron concentration (MIC) determined by MRI and clinical and biochemical parameters in non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia (NTDT) patients. Methodology This prospective study was conducted in the radiology department from October 2016 to September 2018. A total of 30 patients were included. Using Siemens MAGNETOM(®) Avanto 1.5T, iron was quantified with a body matrix coil. Sequences performed were gradient-echo 8 and 12 for the myocardium and liver, respectively. Dual-echo fast spoiled gradient-echo in/out phase and diffusion-weighted images were used. Iron values were calculated using T2* spreadsheet analysis software version 3.1. Data were analyzed using coGuide software V.1.03. Results The mean age of the participants was 24.9 ± 12.6 years. There was a very strong positive correlation between LIC and serum ferritin. There was a strong negative correlation between LIC and hemoglobin. Between LIC and MIC, there was a marginally favorable relationship (r(s) value = 0.077, p-value = 0.985). Conclusions When MRI is not available, serum ferritin can be used as an alternative to diagnose iron overload in patients with NTDT.