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The serum ferritin levels and liver iron concentrations in patients with alpha-thalassemia: is there a good
Nattiya Teawtrakul1, Chittima Sirijerachai1, Kanchana Chansung1
1Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Introduction:
Liver iron overload is common in patients with thalassemia. In patients with beta-thalassemia, the correlation between serum ferritin and liver iron concentration is well established. The correlation between serum ferritin levels and liver iron concentrations in patients with alpha-thalassemia remains limited.
Methods:
This is a cross-sectional study in patients with alpha-thalassemia aged ≥ 18 years old at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. Liver iron concentration (LIC) was evaluated by the MRI-T2* technique. Linear logistic regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between serum ferritin levels and liver iron concentrations.
Results:
One hundred and thirty-one of the MRI-T2* measurements from 65 patients with alpha-thalassemia were evaluated. Patients with non-deletional alpha-thalassemia had higher LIC compared to patients with deletional alpha-thalassemia. The serum ferritin levels were relatively low at the same levels of LIC in patients with non-deletional alpha-thalassemia compared to deletional alpha-thalassemia.
Conclusions:
The correlation of serum ferritin levels and LIC was modest and different among alpha-thalassemia genotypes. A different serum ferritin threshold is needed to guide iron chelation therapy in patients with alpha-thalassemia. Evaluation of liver iron concentration is necessary for patients with alpha-thalassemia, especially in patients with non-deletional alpha-thalassemia.
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