Publication Date
2016
Journal Title
Br J Haematol
Abstract
Transcranial Doppler (TCD) With Transfusions Changing to Hydroxyurea (TWiTCH) trial is a randomized, open-label comparison of hydroxycarbamide (also termed hydroxyurea) versus continued chronic transfusion therapy for primary stroke prevention in patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) and abnormal TCD. Severity and location of iron overload is an important secondary outcome measure. We report the baseline findings of abdominal organ iron burden in 121 participants. At enrollment, patients were young (9.8 +/- 2.9 years), predominantly female (60:40), and previously treated with transfusions (4.1 +/- 2.4 years) and iron chelation (3.1 +/- 2.1 years). Liver iron concentration (LIC; 9.0 +/- 6.6 mg/g dry weight) and serum ferritin were moderately elevated (2696 +/- 1678 mug/l), but transferrin was incompletely saturated (47.2 +/- 23.6%). Spleen R2* was 509 +/- 399 Hz (splenic iron ~13.9 mg/g) and correlated with LIC (r2 = 0.14, P = 0.0008). Pancreas R2* was increased in 38.3% of patients but not to levels associated with endocrine toxicity. Kidney R2* was increased in 80.7% of patients; renal iron correlated with markers of intravascular haemolysis and was elevated in patients with increased urine albumin-creatinine ratios. Extra-hepatic iron deposition is common among children with SCA who receive chronic transfusions, and could potentiate oxidative stress caused by reperfusion injury and decellularized haemoglobin.
Volume Number
172
Issue Number
1
Pages
122-30
Document Type
Article
EPub Date
2015/11/03
Status
Faculty
Facility
School of Medicine
Primary Department
General Pediatrics
PMID
DOI
10.1111/bjh.13791