Evaluated the Correlation Between Serum Ferritin and Iron Overload of Liver, Spleen and Heart in β-Thalassemia Major Patients by MRI T2* Method

β-Thalassemia major often results in an excess of iron in the body due to frequent blood transfusions and enhanced absorption of iron in the gastrointestinal tract. Early detection of this condition and administering sufficient iron chelator therapy can significantly decrease the risk of complications and fatalities resulting from iron overload. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) T2* is an accurate non-invasive method for assessing organ iron overload in β-Thalassaemia major patients. This study evaluated the correlation between serum ferritin and iron overload of liver, spleen, and heart in β -Thalassaemia major patients by MRI T2* method. The design was a cross-section, descriptive study. We used MRI-T2* to evaluate the correlation between serum ferritin and iron overload of liver, spleen, and heart in 24 Thalassaemia major patients admitted in Cho Ray hospital from 10/2013 to 1/2014, using a 1.5T MRI system (Siemens) with a body coil. T2* measurements were taken in the liver, spleen, and myocardium using different gradient echo pulse sequences. T2* values were calculated within homogeneous regions of interest (ROI) in the liver avoiding major blood vessels, spleen, and the entire thickness of the interventricular septum in the myocardium. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to evaluate correlations in the study with a significance threshold of p < 0.05 using SPSS 16.0 software. As results, moderate negative correlation between serum ferritin and liver, spleen MRI T2* relaxation time (r = 0.57 and 0.755) and a weak negative correlation between serum ferritin and heart MRI T2* relaxation time (r = 0.303). Liver and heart MRI T2* readings were poorly correlated (r = 0.28). In conclusion, MRI T2* is useful to evaluate the iron overload status in β thalassemia patients.