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Updated: Aug 19, 2026
Measurement of Tissue Non-Heme Iron Content using a Bathophenanthroline-Based Colorimetric Assay
Published on: January 31, 2022
Variability in hepatic iron concentration in percutaneous needle biopsy specimens from patients with transfusional
Ellen Butensky1, Roland Fischer, Mark Hudes
1Department of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland, CA 94609, USA.
In patients with sickle cell disease or beta-thalassemia receiving RBC transfusions for a long period, a precise knowledge of the liver iron concentration (LIC) is essential for treatment. Patients underwent LIC and liver pathology assessment by duplicate biopsies in 2 passes from the same local liver site. Fresh tissue cores in trace element-free containers and tissues from dissolved paraffin-embedded cores were analyzed. LIC measurements in each of 2 paraffin-embedded cores did not differ significantly (median, 12,455 vs 12,153 microg/g dry weight; n = 29). A significant difference was observed when 1 fresh tissue sample and 1 paraffin-embedded core were analyzed (median, 11,716 vs 12,864 microg/g dry weight; n = 16; P < .001) with a median disagreement between LIC measurements of 23.0%. We found high agreement in LICs between liver biopsy specimens processed by the paraffin-embedding technique but overestimation of LICs in comparison with desiccated fresh tissue samples.
In patients with sickle cell disease or beta-thalassemia receiving RBC transfusions for a long period, a precise knowledge of the liver iron concentration (LIC) is essential for treatment. Patients underwent LIC and liver pathology assessment by duplicate biopsies in 2 passes from the same local liver site. Fresh tissue cores in trace element-free containers and tissues from dissolved paraffin-embedded cores were analyzed. LIC measurements in each of 2 paraffin-embedded cores did not differ significantly (median, 12,455 vs 12,153 microg/g dry weight; n = 29). A significant difference was observed when 1 fresh tissue sample and 1 paraffin-embedded core were analyzed (median, 11,716 vs 12,864 microg/g dry weight; n = 16; P < .001) with a median disagreement between LIC measurements of 23.0%. We found high agreement in LICs between liver biopsy specimens processed by the paraffin-embedding technique but overestimation of LICs in comparison with desiccated fresh tissue samples.
