Relationship between myocardial T2 values and cardiac volumetric and functional parameters in β-thalassemia patients evaluated by cardiac magnetic resonance in association with serum ferritin levels.

Purpose: Myocardial T2 cardiovascular magnetic resonance provides a rapid and reproducible assessment of cardiac iron load in thalassemia patients. Although cardiac involvement is mainly characterized by left ventricular dysfunction caused by iron overload, little is known about right ventricular function. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between T2 value in myocardium and left-right ventricular volumetric and functional parameters and to evaluate the existing associations between left-right ventricles volumetric and functional parameter, myocardial T2 values and blood ferritin levels.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of 208 patients with β-thalassemia major and thalassemia intermedia was performed (109 males and 99 females; mean age 37.7 ± 13 years; 143 thalassemia major, 65 thalassemia intermedia). Myocardial iron load was assessed by T2 measurements, and volumetric functions were analyzed using the steady state free precession sequence.

Results: A significant correlation was observed between EFLV and T2 (p=0.0001), EFRV and T2 (p=0.0279). An inverse correlation was present between DVLV and T2 (p=0.0468), SVLV and T2 (p=0.0003), SVRV and T2 (p=0.0001). There was no significant correlation between cardiac T2 and LV-RV mass indices. A significant correlation was observed between T2 and serum ferritin levels (p<0.001) and between EFLV and serum ferritin (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Myocardial iron load assessed by T2 cardiac magnetic resonance is associated with deterioration in left-right ventricular function; this is more evident when T2 values fall below 14 ms. CMR appears to be a promising approach for cardiac risk evaluation in TM patients.