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The Link of Pancreatic Iron with Glucose Metabolism and Cardiac Iron in Thalassemia Intermedia: A Large, Multicenter Observational Study

Authors :
Liana Cuccia
Massimo Allò
Paolo Ricchi
Priscilla Fina
Riccardo Righi
Filippo Cademartiri
Stefano Dalmiani
Laura Pistoia
Vincenzo Positano
Francesco Sorrentino
Alessia Pepe
Maria Rita Gamberini
Giuseppe Peritore
Emilio Quaia
Valerio Cecinati
Stefania Renne
Antonella Meloni
Ada Riva
Source :
Journal of Clinical Medicine, Vol 10, Iss 5561, p 5561 (2021), Journal of Clinical Medicine, Journal of Clinical Medicine; Volume 10; Issue 23; Pages: 5561
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2021.

Abstract

In thalassemia major, pancreatic iron was demonstrated as a powerful predictor not only for the alterations of glucose metabolism but also for cardiac iron, fibrosis, and complications, supporting a profound link between pancreatic iron and heart disease. We determined for the first time the prevalence of pancreatic iron overload (IO) in thalassemia intermedia (TI) and systematically explored the link between pancreas T2* values and glucose metabolism and cardiac outcomes. We considered 221 beta-TI patients (53.2% females, 42.95 ± 13.74 years) consecutively enrolled in the Extension–Myocardial Iron Overload in Thalassemia project. Magnetic Resonance Imaging was used to quantify IO (T2* technique) and biventricular function and to detect replacement myocardial fibrosis. The glucose metabolism was assessed by the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Pancreatic IO was more frequent in regularly transfused (N = 145) than in nontransfused patients (67.6% vs. 31.6%; p < 0.0001). In the regular transfused group, splenectomy and hepatitis C virus infection were both associated with high pancreatic siderosis. Patients with normal glucose metabolism showed significantly higher global pancreas T2* values than patients with altered OGTT. A pancreas T2* < 17.9 ms predicted an abnormal OGTT. A normal pancreas T2* value showed a 100% negative predictive value for cardiac iron. Pancreas T2* values were not associated to biventricular function, replacement myocardial fibrosis, or cardiac complications. Our findings suggest that in the presence of pancreatic IO, it would be prudent to initiate or intensify iron chelation therapy to prospectively prevent both disturbances of glucose metabolism and cardiac iron accumulation.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20770383
Volume :
10
Issue :
5561
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....e130e7e5785657edddd7337736aa7396