Myocardial Iron Loading in Patients With Thalassemia Major in Turkey and the Potential Role of Splenectomy in Myocardial Siderosis
Articles > Article · 2011
Authors: Yeşim AYDINOK, Selen BAYRAKTAROĞLU, Dilek Yildiz, Hudaver Alper
Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Journal Indexed in SCI Expanded, International, WoS, 2011, vol 33, pp 374-378
DOI: 10.1097/mph.0b013e31820c34ef
Summary
Iron-induced cardiac disease is the leading cause of death in thalassemia major (TM). Splenectomy is performed in TM to reduce transfusion requirements and iron intake. Prevalence of myocardial siderosis and its relationship with splenectomy in 146 patients with TM were investigated. The patients with myocardial siderosis (T2*<20 ms) accounted for 42% of the cohort. Splenectomized patients had a higher incidence of myocardial siderosis (48%) compared with those having intact spleen (28%) and significantly higher myocardial iron content. Higher myocardial iron content in splenectomized patients may deserve special attention for the role of spleen in iron regulation.