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. 2022 Sep 4;13(1):140.
doi: 10.1186/s13244-022-01280-x.

The role of MRI-R2* in the detection of subclinical pancreatic iron loading among transfusion-dependent sickle cell disease patients and correlation with hepatic and cardiac iron loading

Basant Mohamed Raief Mosaad  1 , Ahmed Samir Ibrahim  2 , Mohamed G Mansour  2 , Mohsen Saleh ElAlfy  3 , Fatma Soliman Elsayed Ebeid  3 , Emad H Abdeldayem  2
Affiliations

The role of MRI-R2* in the detection of subclinical pancreatic iron loading among transfusion-dependent sickle cell disease patients and correlation with hepatic and cardiac iron loading

Basant Mohamed Raief Mosaad et al. Insights Imaging. .

Abstract

Objectives: Pancreatic reserve could be preserved by early assessment of pancreatic iron overload among transfusion-dependent sickle cell disease (SCD) patients. This study aimed to measure pancreatic iron load and correlate its value with patients' laboratory and radiological markers of iron overload.

Materials and methods: Sixty-six SCD children and young adults underwent MRI T2* relaxometry using a simple mathematical spreadsheet and laboratory assessment.

Results: The results indicated moderate-to-severe hepatic iron overload among 65.2% of studied cases. None had cardiac iron overload. Normal-to-mild iron overload was present in the pancreas in 86% of cases, and 50% had elevated serum ferritin > 2500 ug/L. There was no significant correlation between pancreatic R2* level, serum ferritin, and hepatic iron overload. Patients with higher levels of hemolysis markers and lower pre-transfusion hemoglobin levels showed moderate-to-severe pancreatic iron overload.

Conclusion: Chronically transfused patients with SCD have a high frequency of iron overload complications including pancreatic iron deposition, thereby necessitating proper monitoring of the body's overall iron balance as well as detection of extrahepatic iron depositions.

Keywords: MRI T2*; Pancreatic R2*; Sickle cell disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram showing the number of patients under chelation therapy, as well as the hepatic, cardiac, and pancreatic iron loading among the sample population
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
MRI of a transfusion-dependent patient with sickle cell disease using multiple echo times. A Axial MRI with a region of interest drawn in the head of the pancreas. B Left ventricular short-axis black blood MRI images sequence with a region of interest drawn at mid interventricular septum. C Axial MRI liver with a region of interest drawn in the periphery of the right lobe of the liver
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
MRI of a transfusion-dependent patient with sickle cell disease using multiple echo times. A Axial MRI with a region of interest drawn in the head of the pancreas. B Left ventricular short-axis black blood MRI images sequence with a region of interest drawn at mid interventricular septum. C Axial MRI liver with a region of interest drawn in the periphery of the right lobe of the liver
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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