The Correlation of Cardiac and Hepatic Hemosiderosis as Measured by T2*MRI Technique with Ferritin Levels and Hemochromatosis Gene Mutations in Iranian Patients with Beta Thalassemia Major

Oxidative stress markers and tissue iron overload after 12-months vitamin E supplementation for children with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia on different iron chelators: A randomized placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Vitamin E is an anti-oxidant depleted in thalassemia as a result of iron overload.

AIM

We investigated the efficacy and safety of vitamin E as an adjuvant therapy to iron chelators in transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients in relation to tissue iron overload and examine its potential corrective value to oxidative stress markers including peroxiredoxin-2 (PRDX2).

METHODS

This randomized prospective study included 180 pediatric patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia who were equally divided into three groups to either receive desferrioxamine (DFO), deferiprone (DFP) or deferasirox (DFX). Patients in each group were further randomized to receive vitamin E supplementation (400 mg daily) or matching placebo. Patients were followed-up for 12 months with assessment of oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde [MDA], reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and PRDX2), serum ferritin (SF), liver iron content (LIC) and cardiac T2∗ by magnetic resonance imaging. The primary endpoint was the change between groups from baseline to 12 months as regards LIC.

RESULTS

After vitamin E therapy, transfusion index, SF and LIC were significantly decreased while hemoglobin and cardiac T2∗ were elevated compared with baseline levels or placebo group. MDA levels were decreased while the studied antioxidants were improved after vitamin E supplementation compared with baseline levels or placebo. DFX-treated patients had the highest hemoglobin level with the lowest SF, LIC and MDA levels compared with DFO or DFP subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin E is a safe adjuvant anti-oxidant therapy that potentiates the efficacy of DFX in reducing iron burden in transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia patients. This trial was registered under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier no. NCT06509581.

The Exploring of Growth Differentiation Factor-15 and H63D Gene Polymorphisms in β-thalassemia Major: Implications for Cardiovascular Risk and Iron Overload

BACKGROUND:

β-thalassemia major (βTM) is a genetic disorder characterized by a deficiency in hemoglobin production, ineffective erythropoiesis, chronic hemolysis, lifelong blood transfusions, iron overload, and increased risk of cardiac complications.

OBJECTIVE:

The study aimed to evaluate the growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) concentration in βTM patients and its correlation with cardiac complications. H63D refers to a specific mutation in the HFE gene, which is associated with hereditary hemochromatosis (HH), a genetic disorder characterized by excessive accumulation of iron in the body. This mutation involves a change of histidine (H) to aspartic acid (D) at position 63 in the HFE protein. This mutation is often only written abbreviated as (H63D).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This case–control study was done on 120 subjects. A total of 60 patient samples were randomly collected from the Genetic Hematology Center at the Babylon Hospital, with an age range of 10–26 years. In addition, 60 samples were collected from healthy children in the same age range as the control group; patients and controls were subdivided into (10–18) and (18–26) year groups. GDF-15 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the genotyping of mutation was done by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction technique.

RESULTS:

The study revealed a significant increase in ferritin (FER) and GDF-15 levels in the patients compared to controls (P< 0.001). GDF-15 showed a direct correlation with age (r= 0.244,P= 0.02) and FER (r= 0.215,P= 0.04). There was a significant difference in H63D mutations between controls and patients (P = 0.044), with a higher proportion of the C-G (heterozygous for the mutant allele) genotype observed in βTM patients (31.67%). Additionally, a notable effect of the H63D mutation on serum ferritin (higher) levels within the βTM group was observed.

CONCLUSION:

Elevations of the GDF-15 in βTM patients indicate a high risk of cardiovascular complications in patients with βTM. The H63D mutation of the hemostatic iron regulator (HFE) gene is frequently found in βTM. Although a significant effect of the mutation was obtained on serum FER levels, it did not act as a risk factor in βTM patients. However, the frequent presence of the H63D mutation in patients indicated a possible association between single-nucleotide polymorphism and the iron regulation pathway.

Effect of HFE Gene Mutations on Iron Metabolism of Beta-Thalassemia Carriers

The human hemochromatosis protein HFE is encoded by the HFE gene and participates in iron regulation. The aim of this study was to detect the most frequent HFE gene mutations in a control population and in β-thalassemia trait (BTT) carriers, and to study their relationship with iron metabolism. Total blood count, hemoglobin electrophoresis at alkaline pH, HbA2 quantification, iron (Fe), total Fe binding capacity and ferritin were assayed. HFE gene mutations were analyzed by real-time PCR. A total of 119 individuals (69 normal and 50 BTT) were examined. In the control group, 9% (6/69) presented a codon 282 heterozygous mutation (C282Y), and 19% a codon 63 mutation (H63D) (13/69, 11 heterozygotes and 2 homozygotes). In the BTT group, 3 carriers (6%) were heterozygous for C282Y, 14 (28%) for H63D, 1 (2%) for a codon 65 mutation and 1 (2%) was H63D and C282Y double heterozygous. Control group Fe metabolism did not show significant differences (p > 0.05) according to whether or not they carried an HFE gene mutation; while the BTT group with and without HFE mutation showed higher Fe and ferritin than the control group (p < 0.05). However, no increases in iron parameters were detected in BTT carriers that simultaneously exhibited an H63D mutation compared to BTT subjects without a mutation. Therefore, the iron metabolism alterations observed in BTT carriers could not be attributed to the presence of HFE gene mutations. It is likely that BTT individuals have other genetic modifiers that affect their iron balance.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Strain in Beta Thalassemia Major Correlates with Cardiac Iron Overload

BACKGROUND

Beta thalassemia major (Beta-TM) is an inherited condition which presents at around two years of life. Patients with Beta-;TM may develop cardiac iron toxicity secondary to transfusion dependence. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) T2*, a technique designed to quantify myocardial iron deposition, is a driving component of disease management. A decreased T2* value represents increasing cardiac iron overload. The clinical manifestation is a decline in ejection fraction (EF). However, there may be early subclinical changes in cardiac function that are not detected by changes in EF. CMR-derived strain assesses myocardial dysfunction prior to decline in EF. Our primary aim was to assess the correlation between CMR strain and T2* in the Beta-TM population.

METHODS

Circumferential and longitudinal strain was analyzed. Pearson's correlation was calculated for T2* values and strain in the Beta-TM population.

RESULTS

We identified 49 patients and 18 controls. Patients with severe disease (low T2*) were found to have decreased global circumferential strain (GCS) in comparison to other T2* groups. A correlation was identified between GCS and T2* (r = 0.5; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

CMR-derived strain can be a clinically useful tool to predict early myocardial dysfunction in Beta-TM.

Assessment of iron overload in a cohort of Sri Lankan patients with transfusion dependent beta thalassaemia and its correlation with pathogenic variants in HBB, HFE, SLC40A1, and TFR2 genes

Background

Iron overload (IO) is a complication in transfusion dependent beta thalassaemia (TDT). Pathogenic variants in genes involving iron metabolism may confer increased risk of IO. The objective of this study was to determine the magnitude of the cardiac and hepatic IO and determine whether pathogenic variants in HFE, SLC40A1 and TFR2 genes increase the risk of IO in a cohort of TDT patients in Sri Lanka.

Materials and Methods

Fifty-seven (57) patients with TDT were recruited for this study. Serum ferritin was done once in 3 months for a period of one year in all. Those who were ≥ 8 years of age (40 patients) underwent T2* MRI of the liver and heart. Fifty-two (52) patients underwent next generation sequencing (NGS) to identify pathogenic variants in HBB, HFE, SLC40A1 and TFR2 genes.

Results

The median age of the patients of this cohort was 10 years. It comprised of 30 (52.6%) boys and 27 (47.4%) girls. The median level of serum ferritin was 2452 ng/dl. Hepatic IO was seen in 37 (92.5%) patients and cardiac IO was seen in 17 (42.5%) patients. There was no statistically significant correlation between serum ferritin and hepatic or cardiac IO.

Thirty-two (61.5%), 18 (34.6%), 2 (3.8%) of patients were homozygotes, compound heterozygotes and heterozygotes for pathogenic variants in the HBB gene. Eight (15.4%) and 1 (1.9%) patients were heterozygotes for pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants of HFE genes respectively. There were no pathogenic variants for the TfR2 and SLC40A1 genes. The heterozygotes of the pathogenic variants of the HFE were not at increased risk of IO.

Conclusions

Cardiac T2* MRI helps to detect cardiac IO in asymptomatic patients. It is important to perform hepatic and cardiac T2* MRI to detect IO in patients with TDT. There was no statistically significant correlation between pathogenic variants of HBB and HFE genes with hepatic and cardiac IO in this cohort of patients.

A double-blind, controlled, crossover trial of amlodipine on iron overload status in transfusion dependent β-thalassemia patients

BACKGROUND AND AIM

This study examined whether administration of amlodipine could improve myocardial iron loading status in patients with transfusion dependent β-thalassemia (TDT), through a placebo-controlled, crossover study.

METHODS

Amlodipine (5 mg, daily) or placebo were prescribed to all patients (n = 19) for 6 months, and after a 2-week washout period, patients were crossed over to the other group. The efficacy of amlodipine on iron loading was assessed by measuring myocardial T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI T2*, millisecond [ms]) and serum ferritin (ng/mL).

RESULTS

Seventeen patients completed the study. The mean ± standard deviation [SD] of myocardial MRI T2* at baseline was 9.83 ± 2.67 ms Myocardial MRI T2* value rose to 11.44 ± 4.14 ms post amlodipine treatment in all patients. After placebo, myocardial MRI T2* value reached 10.29 ± 4.01 ms After controlling the baseline measures, Hedges's g for ferritin and myocardial MRI T2* outcomes were estimated 3.84 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.68 to 4.97) and -1.80 (95% CI -2.58 to -0.10), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Amlodipine might improve myocardial MRI T2* and serum ferritin level compared to placebo. However, larger clinical studies are needed to confirm the results.

Calcium Channel Blockers in Conjunction with Standard Iron-Chelating Agents for β-Thalassemia Major: Systematic Literature Search

Thalassemia is a genetic mutation of the α- or β-globin chains that lead to defective erythropoiesis. This study aimed to collect evidences from all published studies that investigated the clinical effectiveness of calcium channel blockers (CCBs) in conjunction with chelation therapy for reducing iron overload in patients with thalassemia. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Virtual Health Library. Original studies reporting the use of CCBs in patients with thalassemia were included for meta-analysis. A total of five randomized studies including 210 patients were included with a follow-up period of 3-12 months. There was no significant difference between amlodipine and control groups in increasing the heart T2* magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [mean difference (MD) 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = -1.9 (-4.4 to 0.5), p = 0.119] or reducing the liver iron concentration [MD 95% CI = -0.046 (-0.325 to 0.2), p = 0.746]. Although there were no serious adverse events reported in the included trials, further studies are recommended to strengthen our findings.

Association of HFE Gene Mutations With Serum Ferritin Level and Heart and Liver Iron Overload in Patients With Transfusion-dependent Beta-Thalassemia

OBJECTIVE

This study was performed on patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia (TDT) to investigate the effect of HFE gene mutations of iron overload in a large group of patients with TDT major and its relationship with heart and liver T2* magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) level.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, a total of 253 patients with TDT who had regular blood transfusion were included in this study. HFE gene mutations including H63D and C282Y were evaluated in all patients through molecular assay. Heart and liver T2* MRI results, types, duration of iron therapy, and the demographic data including age, gender, serum ferritin level, blood transfusion, and splenectomy history of the included participants were also collected, using a questionnaire.

RESULTS

Homozygous and heterozygous H63D mutation was found in 39.5% of the patients and C282Y mutation was found only in 1 patient. Ferritin level was significantly higher in patients with H63D mutation in comparison with patients without this mutation (P=0.036). Although heart T2* MRI and also the liver T2* MRI in the patients with H63D was slightly higher, the difference was not statistically significant. No significant correlation was observed between serum ferritin level and heart and liver T2* MRI, and iron chelation regimen.

DISCUSSION

Heart and liver iron overload was not significantly different between patients with and without H63D mutation. As for serum ferritin, it was significantly higher among patients with H63D mutation compared with patients without this mutation. Hence, it is recommended to consider HFE gene mutations among patients with thalassemia to reach a better iron overload evaluation and management.

Effect of homeostatic iron regulator protein gene mutation on Wilson's disease clinical manifestation: original data and literature review

OBJECTIVE

Wilson's disease (WD) is a hereditary disorder of copper metabolism. The metabolic pathways of copper and iron are interrelated. Our goal was to determine the frequency of the two most common mutations in the coding region of the human iron homeostatic protein gene (HFE) in Europe: C282Y (rs1800562) and H63D (rs1799945) in WD patients, as well as to analyze their relation with WD phenotypic traits.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

HFE mutations were studied by PCR RFLP method in 445 WD patients and 102 controls. All patients met the diagnostic criteria of WD 8^th International Conference on Wilson Disease and Menkes Disease.

RESULTS

HFE C282Y heterozygotes, both women and men, showed WD symptoms earlier than patients with wild-type HFE genotype. HFE 63HD heterozygous men presented symptoms later than HFE 63HH homozygotes, but HFE 63HD women manifested symptoms later than those with HFE 63HH genotype.

CONCLUSIONS

HFE genotype seems to be one of the factors modifying Wilson's disease phenotype.

Cardiac Iron Overload by MRI in Children With B-Thalassemia Major and its Correlation With Cardiac Function by Echocardiography

BACKGROUND

Serial echocardiography is strongly recommended in asymptomatic B-thalassemia major (TM) patients for early detection of subtle cardiac dysfunction. T2*magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive measurement of myocardial iron burden. Yet, it is not always available in many centers. Our study aimed to evaluate the myocardial function in TM patients using different echocardiographic modalities and to correlate these findings with cardiac T2*MRI.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study that was carried out on 140 children with a mean age of 10.9±3.7 years. One hundred children with TM and 40 healthy children were matched for age and sex as a control group. Serum ferritin, serum iron, and iron-binding capacity were measured. Cardiac iron overload was assessed by T2*MRI and cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography. The local ethics committee approved the study.

RESULTS

Among 100 children with TM, only 32% had cardiac iron overload of 8.525±5.45 detected by cardiac T2*MRI. Iron deposition correlated significantly with age. Markers of iron overload were significantly correlated with cardiac T2*MRI. There were significantly lower values of myocardial performance index, longitudinal strain, circumferential strain, area strain, and radial strain in TM patients compared with the controls (P<0.001). Only the myocardial performance index was correlated with T2*MRI.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms that some parameters measured by tissue Doppler imaging such as the myocardial performance index could be useful for the early detection of cardiac impairment in asymptomatic TM patients when cardiac MRI is lacking. Further studies on a large scale to identify other parameters with high sensitivity are recommended.

Complications and Challenges in the Management of Iraqi Patients with β-Thalassemia Major: A Single-center Experience

OBJECTIVES

We sought to assess the complications and challenges facing the management of β-thalassemia major (β-TM) in Iraq.

METHODS

A total of 150 consecutive patients with β-TM who were registered at a main thalassemia center in Northern Iraq were enrolled in the study. The patients had their records reviewed, were clinically evaluated, and investigated for various complications.

RESULTS

Our patient cohort had a median age of 13 years (range: 1-35 years) and a male to female ratio of 1:1.2. Their median serum ferritin was 2762 µg/L, all were on regular transfusions, 94.7% were on chelation therapy, and 38.0% were splenectomized. Pre-transfusion hemoglobin levels were 3 9.0 g/dL in 38.7% of the patients. Short stature was encountered in 33.9% of those aged ≤ 20 years, and skeletal changes were noted in 50.7%. Iron overload associated complications, including hypogonadism, hypothyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, diabetes mellitus, and heart failure, were encountered in 52.8%, 7.3%, 3.3%, 3.3%, and 2.7%, respectively. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies were detectable in 35.3%, while HIV antibodies and hepatitis B surface antigen were not detectable in any. Patients with diabetes mellitus, heart failure, HCV antibodies, and hypoparathyroidism were significantly older than those without these complications. Hypogonadism was the only complication associated with significantly higher serum ferritin levels. Hypogonadism, heart failure, HCV antibodies, and diabetes were significantly more frequent among the splenectomized patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The management of β-TM in this cohort of Iraqi patients is still suboptimal, and the need to ensure timely transfusions and optimize chelation, as well as a more robust iron overload assessment, should be underscored.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance native T2 and T2* quantitative values for cardiomyopathies and heart transplantations: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The clinical application of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) T2 and T2* mapping is currently limited as ranges for healthy and cardiac diseases are poorly defined. In this meta-analysis we aimed to determine the weighted mean of T2 and T2* mapping values in patients with myocardial infarction (MI), heart transplantation, non-ischemic cardiomyopathies (NICM) and hypertension, and the standardized mean difference (SMD) of each population with healthy controls. Additionally, the variation of mapping outcomes between studies was investigated.

METHODS

The PRISMA guidelines were followed after literature searches on PubMed and Embase. Studies reporting CMR T2 or T2* values measured in patients were included. The SMD was calculated using a random effects model and a meta-regression analysis was performed for populations with sufficient published data.

RESULTS

One hundred fifty-four studies, including 13,804 patient and 4392 control measurements, were included. T2 values were higher in patients with MI, heart transplantation, sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, amyloidosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and myocarditis (SMD of 2.17, 1.05, 0.87, 1.39, 1.62, 1.95, 1.90 and 1.33, respectively, P <  0.01) compared with controls. T2 values in iron overload patients (SMD = - 0.54, P = 0.30) and Anderson-Fabry disease patients (SMD = 0.52, P = 0.17) did both not differ from controls. T2* values were lower in patients with MI and iron overload (SMD of - 1.99 and - 2.39, respectively, P <  0.01) compared with controls. T2* values in HCM patients (SMD = - 0.61, P = 0.22), DCM patients (SMD = - 0.54, P = 0.06) and hypertension patients (SMD = - 1.46, P = 0.10) did not differ from controls. Multiple CMR acquisition and patient demographic factors were assessed as significant covariates, thereby influencing the mapping outcomes and causing variation between studies.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical utility of T2 and T2* mapping to distinguish affected myocardium in patients with cardiomyopathies or heart transplantation from healthy myocardium seemed to be confirmed based on this meta-analysis. Nevertheless, variation of mapping values between studies complicates comparison with external values and therefore require local healthy reference values to clinically interpret quantitative values. Furthermore, disease differentiation seems limited, since changes in T2 and T2* values of most cardiomyopathies are similar.

Association of frequency of hereditary hemochromatosis (HFE) gene mutations (H63D and C282Y) with iron overload in beta-thalassemia major patients in Pakistan

Objectives:

To evaluate any association between the frequency of hereditary hemochromatosis (HFE) gene mutation (H63D and C282Y) and iron overload in beta-thalassemia major (BTM) patients.

Methods:

The case-control study was conducted from June 2016 to February 2018. Blood samples from 204 BTM patients and 204 normal controls were taken from the Sundas Foundation Blood Bank.

These samples were analyzed for serum ferritin assay and HFE mutation. Ferritin level was measured on the ARCHITECT 1000SR. Both patient and control samples were analyzed for mutations using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

Results:

Serum ferritin levels for all patients were >1000ng/mL. The p.H63D mutation was observed in 23 (11.3%) cases, out of which 19 cases were heterozygous for p.H63D and 4 cases were homozygous. In control samples, 4 cases (2%) were found heterozygous for the p.H63D, and no homozygous mutation was found. Significantly high serum ferritin levels were found in BTM patients with the H63D mutation (p=0.00). In the case of p.C282Y, neither homozygous nor heterozygous mutation was found in patients or in controls.

Conclusion:

H63D polymorphism is associated with iron overload in BTM patients. Larger-scale research is required to give an elaborated view of the association of the HFE mutation with iron overload in these patients and to confirm our conclusion.

A randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of amlodipine on myocardial iron deposition in pediatric patients with thalassemia major

Background

Mortality rates increase due to iron deposition in the cardiac muscles of thalassemia major (TM) patients. Iron overload cardiomyopathy could be treated with a combination therapy of an iron chelator and an L-type calcium channel blocker. We designed a randomized controlled study to assess the potential of amlodipine, alongside chelation, in reducing myocardial iron concentration in TM patients compared with a placebo.

Objectives

This study aims to estimate the change in myocardial iron concentration (MIC) determined by magnetic resonance imaging after 6 months of treatment with amlodipine, as well as measuring the changes in the secondary outcomes (liver iron concentration (LIC), serum ferritin level (SF), and left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF)) of study participants.

Methods

A single, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was performed in 40 β-Thalassemia major patients aged between 6 and 20 years old, who received either oral amlodipine 2.5–5 mg/day or a placebo, in addition to a Deferasirox chelation regimen in a 1:1 allocation ratio.

Results

After 6 months, a significant reduction was noted in the MIC of patients receiving amlodipine (n=20), compared with the patients receiving the placebo (n=20). At baseline, the mean was 0.76±0.11 mg/g dry weight, while at 6 months, the mean was 0.51±0.07 mg/g dry weight (p<0.001). Also, there was a significant change in the myocardial T2* after 6 months; the amlodipine increased the myocardial T2* from 40.63±5.45 ms at baseline to 43.25±5.35 ms (p<0.001). However, amlodipine did not significantly affect the secondary outcomes by the end of the study.

Conclusion

The addition of amlodipine to the standard chelation therapy in transfusion-dependent thalassemia major patients improves myocardial iron overload without increasing the adverse effects.

Effective method of evaluating myocardial iron concentration in pediatric patients with thalassemia major

Background

The use of T2* magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been promoted by recent studies as a noninvasive method for the detection of iron overload in thalassemia major patients. This study aims to estimate the iron load in the heart and liver of thalassemia major patients using T2* MRI and to determine its correlation with the left ventricle ejection fraction and serum ferritin level.

Methods

Forty β-Thalassemia major patients were included in the study. We evaluated the serum ferritin level, echocardiography, cardiac T2*, myocardial iron concentration (MIC), liver iron concentration (LIC) and hepatic T2* in all patients. CMR T2* findings were categorized as normal cardiac T2* (T2* >20 ms) or abnormal cardiac T2* (T2* <20 ms).

Results

The study found that 85% of patients had a normal cardiac T2* value. The median serum ferritin level was 2189. A significant inverse correlation was found between the serum ferritin level and the cardiac T2* (r=−0.381, =0.015); however, the correlations between serum ferritin and the hepatic T2* and liver iron concentration were statistically non-significant (P=0.539 and P=0.637, respectively). Additionally, the LVEF correlation was statistically non-significant with SF, hepatic T2* and cardiac T2*.

Conclusion

Regardless of the serum ferritin level or left ventricle function, a cardiac T2* MRI should be done for all patients with β-Thalassemia major in order to estimate the myocardial iron concentration.