The efficacy of tissue Doppler imaging in predicting myocardial iron load in patients with beta-thalassemia major: correlation with T2* cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Abstract

Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) can detect myocardial dysfunction related to iron load in patients with beta-thalassemia major (TM). We aimed to assess the efficacy of pulsed-wave TDI (PW-TDI) in predicting myocardial iron load in patients with TM using T2* magnetic resonance (MR) as the gold-standard non-invasive diagnostic test. 33 asymptomatic TM patients, mean aged 18 +/- 6 years (6-31) with normal left ventricular (LV) global systolic function were evaluated by conventional echocardiography and PW-TDI. Results were compared with 20 age and sex-matched controls. TDI measures included myocardial systolic (Sm), early (Em) and late (Am) diastolic velocities at basal and middle segments of septal and lateral LV wall. Myocardial iron deposition were measured in 29/33 patients by T2* MR. TM patients were also subgrouped according to those with iron load (T2* <or= 20 ms) and those without (T2* > 20 ms). Mean T2* was 12.3 +/- 7.8 ms (4-31.3). Abnormal myocardial iron load (T2* < 20 ms) was found in 25/29 (86%) patients. The following TDI measures were lower in patients than in controls: basal septal Em (P < 0.001) and Am (P < 0.05), mid-septal Am (P < 0.05), mid-lateral LV wall Sm (P < 0.05) and Am (P < 0.05). Regional myocardial dysfunction were more prominent in patients with T2* <or= 20 ms. Mid-septal Sm and Em significantly correlated with mid-septal T2*(r = 0.44, P = 0.023 and r = 0.54, P = 0.004, respectively). The PW-TDI parameters and the cut-off values for predicting presence of myocardial iron load were determined. PW-TDI technique was found both sensitive and specific in predicting presence of myocardial iron load in TM patients with normal LV global systolic function. Therefore, it can be used for screening of TM patients.

• Authors: Ebru Aypar, Dursun Alehan, Tuncay Hazirolan, Fatma Gümrük
• Journal: The international journal of cardiovascular imaging (Int J Cardiovasc Imaging) Vol. 26 Issue 4 Pg. 413-21 (Apr 2010) ISSN: 1875-8312 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20127175 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Evaluation Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Iron

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Case-Control Studies
• Child
• Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed
• Female
• Humans
• Iron (metabolism)
• Iron Overload (diagnostic imaging, etiology, metabolism, physiopathology)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine
• Male
• Myocardium (metabolism, pathology)
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Ventricular Dysfunction, Left (diagnostic imaging, etiology, metabolism, physiopathology)
• Ventricular Function, Left
• Young Adult
• beta-Thalassemia (complications, diagnostic imaging, metabolism, physiopathology)