The Correlation between Serum Ferritin, Serum Troponin T, cardiac T2* MRI and Echocardiographic Findings in Patients with Thalassemia Major

Background: Frequent blood transfusions lead to various complications in patients with thalassemia major. Heart problems caused by iron deposition in the myocardium are the major cause of death in patients with thalassemia major. Early diagnosis of cardiac dysfunction in patients with thalassemia major undergoing frequent blood transfusion is very important. We aimed to investigate the correlation between serum Ferritin level, serum Troponin T (TropT), cardiac T2* MRI and echocardiographic findings in patients with thalassemia major. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on all children >5 years old with thalassemia major admitted to Amirkabir Hospital, Arak, Iran, during 2016-2017. serum Ferritin level and Troponin T, echocardiography, and cardiac T2*MRI were analyzed in all participants. Results: We found no correlation between serum ferritin and Trop T levels. However, there was a significant correlation between serum Trop T and serum ferritin with cardiac T2*MRI and also between serum Trop T and echocardiographic parameters (positive correlation with E/A ratio and functional shortening); and a negative correlation with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Moreover, there was no correlation between cardiac T2* MRI and echocardiographic findings. Conclusion: Our results showed a positive correlation between serum troponin T with E/A size and FS and a negative correlation with LVEF and it was an important prognostic factor in early stage of cardiac damage in patients with thalassemia major. Moreover, there was a negative correlation between results of T2* MRI and serum ferritin and troponin T.