Reduction of extramedullary erythropoiesis and amelioration of anemia in a β-thalassemia patient treated with thalidomide.

β-thalassemia patient treated with thalidomide: dimensional reduction of EMH foci (MRI evaluation) and reduction of hematological responce at follow-up.

Characterization of ferromagnetic or conductive properties of metallic foreign objects embedded within the human body with magnetic iron detector (MID): Screening patients for MRI.

Purpose: A preliminary assessment of the MRI-compatibility of metallic object possibly embedded within the patient is required before conducting the MRI examination. The Magnetic Iron Detector (MID) is a highly sensitive susceptometer that uses a weak magnetic field to measure iron overload in the liver. MID might be used to perform a screening procedure for MRI by determining the ferromagnetic/conductive properties of embedded metallic objects.

Acquired iron overload associated with antitransferrin monoclonal immunoglobulin: a case report.

We describe a patient with an unusual combination of hypersideremia (700 microg/dL), hypertransferrinemia (570 mg/dL), hyperferritinemia (800 microg/L), and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), in which the monoclonal immunoglobulin showed specific transferrin-binding activity. Liver histology revealed hepatic iron overload, prominent in periportal hepatocytes, suggesting intestinal iron hyperabsorption. We demonstrate that low urinary hepcidin, likely due to impaired iron delivery to erythroid cells via the transferrin cycle pathway over time, may be the mechanism for iron loading.