Real‐life experience with liver iron concentration R2 MRI measurement in patients with hemoglobinopathies: baseline data from LICNET. (23rd February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vitrano, Angela; Calvaruso, Giuseppina; Tesé, Lorenzo; Gioia, Francesco; Cassarà, Filippo; Campisi, Saveria; Butera, Franco; Commendatore, Valeria; Rizzo, Michele; Santoro, Vincenzo; Cigna, Valeria; Quota, Alessandra; Bagnato, Sabrina; Argento, Crocetta; Fidone, Carmelo; Schembari, Dario; Gerardi, Calogera; Barbiera, Filippo; Bellisssima, Giuseppe; Giugno, Giovanni; Polizzi, Gesualdo; Rosso, Rosamaria; Abbate, Giovanna; Caruso, Vincenzo; Chiodi, Elisabetta; Gamberini, Maria Rita; Giorgi, Benedetta; Putti, Maria Caterina; Filosa, Aldo; De Ritis, Maria Rosaria; Oliva, Esther; Arcadi, Nicola; Fustaneo, Maria; Mistretta, Laura; Di Maggio, Rosario; Sacco, Massimiliano; Veronica, Di Salvo; Giangreco, Antonino; Maggio, Aurelio;
• Is Part Of: European journal of haematology. Volume 97:Number 4(2016:Oct.)
• Page Start: 361
• Page End: 370
• Publication Date: 2016-02-23
• Subjects: thalassemia -- sickle cell disease -- iron overload -- diagnosis; Hematology -- Periodicals; Blood -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Blood -- Periodicals; 616.15005
• DOI: 10.1111/ejh.12740
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0902-4441

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Real‐life data on the use of R2 MRI for the assessment of liver iron concentration (LIC) remain limited. Methods: We conducted a cross‐sectional analysis on 363 patients (mean age 35.6 yr, 44.1% men) with hemoglobinopathies (204 β ‐thalassemia major [TM], 102 β ‐thalassemia intermedia [TI], and 57 sickle cell disease [SCD]) that were evaluated with R2 MRI as part of LICNET, an MRI network of 13 Italian treatment centers. Results: The mean LIC was 7.8 mg/g (median: 4.0), with high LIC (>7 mg/g) noted in both transfused (TM, TI 37%; SCD 38%) and non‐transfused (TI 20%) patients. Ferritin levels correlated with LIC in both transfused (TM, TI, SCD) and non‐transfused (TI) patients ( P < 0.001), although lower values predicted high LIC in non‐transfused patients (1900 vs. 650 ng/mL in TM vs. non‐transfused TI). A correlation between LIC and ALT levels was only noted in HCV‐negative patients (rs = 0.316, P < 0.001). The proportion of patients with high LIC was significantly different between iron chelators used ( P = 0.023), with the lowest proportion in deferasirox (30%) and highest in deferiprone (53%)‐treated patients. Conclusions: High LIC values persist in subgroups of patients with hemoglobinopathy, warranting closer monitoring and management optimization, even for non‐transfused patients with relatively low ferritin levels.