Severe liver iron concentrations (lic) in 24 patients with Β-thalassemia major: correlations with serum ferritin, liver enzymes and endocrine complications

Conclusions: A significant number of BTM patients, with high LIC and endocrine disorders, still exist despite the recent developments of new oral iron chelating agents. Therefore, physicians ’ strategies shall optimize early identification of those patients in order to optimise their chelation therapy and to avoid iron-induced organ damage. We believe that further studies are needed to evaluate if serial measurements of quantitative LIC may predict the risk for endocrine complications . Until these data are available, we recommend a close monitoring of endocrine and other complications, according to the international guidelines. 
Source: Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases - Category: Hematology Source Type: research