Liver volume in thalassaemia major: relationship with body weight, serum ferritin, and liver function

It is not known whether body weight alone can adjust for the volume of liver in the calculation of the chelating dose in beta-thalassaemia major patients, who frequently have iron overload and hepatitis.

The hypothesis is that liver volume in children and adolescents suffering from beta-thalassaemia major is affected by ferritin level and liver function.

Thirty-five beta-thalassaemia major patients aged 7-18 years and 35 age- and sex-matched controls had liver volume measured by MRI. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and ferritin levels were obtained in the thalassaemia major patients.

Body weight explained 65 and 86% of the change in liver volume in beta-thalassaemia major patients and age-matched control subjects, respectively. Liver volume/kilogram body weight was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in thalassaemia major patients than in control subjects. There was a significant correlation between ALT level and liver volume/kilogram body weight (r = 0.55, P = 0.001). Patients with elevated ALT had significantly higher liver volume/kilogram body weight (mean 42.9 +/- 12 cm3/kg) than control subjects (mean 23.4 +/- 3.6 cm3/kg) and patients with normal ALT levels (mean 27.4 +/- 3.6 cm3/kg).

Body weight is the most important single factor for liver-volume changes in thalassaemia major patients, but elevated ALT also has a significant role. Direct liver volume measurement for chelation dose adjustment may be advantageous in patients with elevated ALT.