Abstract | BACKGROUND: STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at 31 hematology clinics in the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom. Patients who received transfusions with a mean serum ferritin level of least 2000 ng per mL were eligible. A total of 199 patients with SCD (113 female; 24.9 +/- 13.2 years) and 142 with Thal (66 female; 25.8 +/- 8.1 years) were recruited, and data were collected between 2001 and 2003 by interview and medical record review. RESULTS: Although both groups were recruited on the basis of significant iron overload, the likelihood of performing a liver biopsy for routine iron monitoring was significantly higher (odds ratio [OR], 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2-5.3) in Thal than SCD. Thal patients were also more likely to be screened for iron-related organ injury including an echocardiograph for cardiomyopathy (OR, 2.6; p < 0.001; 95% CI, 1.6-4.2), alanine aminotransferase for liver function (OR, 8.3; CI, 1.05-64.4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone for hypothyroidism (OR, 12.3; CI, 7.0-21.5). For adult SCD patients, those maintained on simple transfusion with a serum ferritin level of greater than 2500 ng per mL were the least likely to have a liver biopsy (p < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: These data highlight the unsystematic monitoring of iron and related organ injury in SCD. Until the relationship between iron and related comorbidities is better understood, routine monitoring of iron overload in SCD patients who receive transfusions should be considered a standard part of clinical care.
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Authors | Ellen B Fung, Paul R Harmatz, Meredith Milet, Vinod Balasa, Samir K Ballas, James F Casella, Lee Hilliard, Abdullah Kutlar, Kenneth L McClain, Nancy F Olivieri, John B Porter, Elliott P Vichinsky, Multi-Center Iron Overload Research Group |
Journal | Transfusion
(Transfusion)
Vol. 48
Issue 9
Pg. 1971-80
(Sep 2008)
ISSN: 1537-2995 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 18513257
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Anemia, Sickle Cell
(therapy)
- Canada
- Child
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Erythrocyte Transfusion
(adverse effects)
- Female
- Ferritins
(blood)
- Humans
- Iron Overload
(etiology, therapy)
- Male
- Thalassemia
(therapy)
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Young Adult
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