Quantitative T2* Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Evaluation of Iron Deposition in the Brain of β-Thalassemia Patients

Abstract

Serum ferritin and liver iron content may not be good indicators of brain iron deposition in patients with β thalassemia major. Nevertheless, the quantitative T2* MRI technique is useful for evaluation of brain iron overload in β thalassemia major patients.

Hypercoagulability in β-thalassemia: a status quo

“…Similar studies from pediatric patients failed to document a high rate of silent strokes [52]. The aforementioned hypercoagulable state in TI alongside iron overload with subsequent cerebrovascular damage [53,54] could be involved in the pathophysiology of silent cerebral infarction. Further study of the ideal prevention strategies of these covert lesions is warranted, especially whether they could be associated with neurocognitive disabilities [55].…”

Investigation of cerebral iron deposition in aged patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease using susceptibility-weighted imaging

“…Excessive pallidal and nigral iron accumulation has been confirmed in patients with neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation, and a typical sign of “tiger eye” can be seen in bilateral globus pallidus on MRI 26. In physiological condition of normal aging, the LN was also vulnerable to increased iron deposition 27,28…”

“…As iron deposition in the brain may be influenced by factors, such as age, sex, and lateralization,27,28,33,34 iron deposition of each side of the brain was measured. In this study, iron deposition in the left brain was slightly higher than in right side but did not reach statistical significance level (data not shown), and the data used for analysis were average of both sides.…”

Ferritin Iron Mineralization and Storage: From Structure to Function

“…Accumulation of iron in the liver is one of the complications of -thalassemia, and MRI became an important modality for monitoring iron-chelation therapy [42][43][44][45][46][47].…”