@article{Jetsrisuparb_Srinakarin_Chaosuwannakit_Hanpanich_Saiviroonporn_Komwilaisak_Wiangnon_2014, title={Is it necessary to Perform Liver MRI T2* Earlier in Patients with Thalassemia Intermedia?}, volume={29}, url={https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/SRIMEDJ/article/view/23698}, abstractNote={<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Background</span></strong> <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">and objective :</span></strong>  Iron overload is an essential problem causing several complications in thalassemic patients, necessitating early diagnosis and treatment.  MRI T2* is widely accepted for measuring iron overload in the heart and liver. This study aim to evaluate the heart and liver iron concentration using MRI T2* at different levels of serum ferritin.</p><p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Patients and Methods</span></strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">:</span><strong>  </strong>We selected 30 patients with thalassemia intermedia; whose serum ferritin was 600–1,000, 1,001–2,000 and >2,000 mcg/ml.  Heart and liver MRI T2* were performed.   Iron markers and liver function were rechecked  on the same day of  MRI performing.</p><p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Results</span></strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">: </span> Twenty patients had HbEb-thalassemia: 3 HbH with Hb Constant Spring; 6 HbH with Hb Constant Spring and heterozygous HbE; and, 1 HbH with Hb Pakse and heterozygous HbE.  Median age was 14 years (range 10–31). All patients had non-transfusion dependent thalassemia but most received regular PRC transfusions every 3–4 weeks.  No cardiac abnormalities were found.  Of the patients with a respective serum ferritin <1000 and <800 mg/ml, 50% and 25% (6/12 and 2/8, respectively) had a median LIC >7 mg/g dry weight.  Serum ferritin had a fair correlation with LIC as did ALT:  both were statistically significant.</p><p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Conclusions</span></strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">:</span>  Liver MRI T2* revealed iron overload in thalassemia intermedia at low serum ferritin levels.  More information is needed for reconsidering guidelines on investigation and treatment for iron overload in these patients.</p>}, number={4}, journal={Srinagarind Medical Journal}, author={Jetsrisuparb, Arunee and Srinakarin, Jiraporn and Chaosuwannakit, Narumol and Hanpanich, Petcharakorn and Saiviroonporn, Pairash and Komwilaisak, Patcharee and Wiangnon, Surapon}, year={2014}, month={Nov.}, pages={95} }