Afshan Shirkavand; Zahra Razaghi; Sharam Akhlaghpoor; Azita Azarkeivan; Mehran Karimi
Abstract
Introduction: Multi-organ iron load is prevalent crucial side effect in thalassemic patients due to repeated transfusions, and high intestinal iron absorption. MRI T2* has demonstrated its potency as a non-invasive technique for the imaging of hemosiderosis in thalassemia. We aim to investigate the iron ...
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Introduction: Multi-organ iron load is prevalent crucial side effect in thalassemic patients due to repeated transfusions, and high intestinal iron absorption. MRI T2* has demonstrated its potency as a non-invasive technique for the imaging of hemosiderosis in thalassemia. We aim to investigate the iron load of adrenal glands and kidneys using MRI T2* in adult thalassemia patients and evaluate the serum ferritin correlation of with kidneys, heart, liver, and adrenal glands’ iron load.Methods: Thirty-five thalassemia major (TM) and thalassemia intermediate (TI) patients (age range 18-50 years) from Zafar thalassemia Clinic, were recruited in this survey from September 2019 to October 2020. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was used to map iron overload in several organs’ regions of interest (ROIs) using fast-gradient-echo multi echo T2*sequences protocol. T-test and chi-square analysis were done.Results: Nine (25.7%) patients had left Kidney T2* less than 36ms which could indicate abnormal renal iron load while this was 8 (22.9%) for the right kidney. In the left and right adrenal glands, these numbers were 31 (88.6%) and 29 (82.9%), respectively, below the normal threshold.Conclusion: Adrenal gland and renal iron overloads were detected in MRI images of thalassemic patients. Correlation for serum ferritin levels and kidney and adrenal glands T2* was found weakly negative. Non-invasive monitoring of the internal organs’ hemosiderosis using MRI T2* was found to be beneficial for iron-chelating optimization and preventing irreversible tissue damage.
Marzieh Rahimzadegan; Farshid Abedi; Seyed Abodolrahim Rezaei; Reza Ghadimi
Abstract
Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1) is an ancient pathogen for human being but arising and recognized recently. The routes of transmission are vertical (mainly by breastfeeding), unsafe sexual contacts and through contaminated blood components specially in whom need frequent and repeated blood ...
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Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1) is an ancient pathogen for human being but arising and recognized recently. The routes of transmission are vertical (mainly by breastfeeding), unsafe sexual contacts and through contaminated blood components specially in whom need frequent and repeated blood transfusions such as permanent anemia due to blood loss in hemophilia and major thalassemia. Patients who should undergo hemodialysis in their lifelong are another instance for increased risk of HTLV-1 exposure. The main HTLV-1-associated diseases are tropical spastic tetraparesis (HAM/TSP), an inflammatory myelopathy and adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). Although HTLV-1 is scattered around the world, only in endemic areas where prevalence rate is more than 1%, viral burden of infection have accumulated. Japan, Southern and Central parts of Africa, Caribbean basin and Iran are examples of endemic areas of HTLV-1. In this article, a rapid and brief review of HTLV-1 virology, immunology and pathogenesis have emerged. In addition, a short debate has driven about current statues of HTLV-1 in Iran.