Transfusion associated iron overload in childhood cancer survivors

• Published in: Cukurova Medical Journal Vol. 43; no. 4; pp. 810 - 815
• Main Authors: Yağcı Küpeli,Ganiye Begül, Küpeli,Serhan, Bayram,İbrahim, Dilek,Okan, Yılmaz,Cengiz, İlhan Yalaki,Aysu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Çukurova Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi 01.04.2018
• Subjects: Tıp; Türkiye; Adana; Iron overload; T2MRI; ferritin; çocukluk çağı kanserleri; T2MRG; Demir yükü; childhood cancer
• ISSN: 2602-3032; 2602-3040
• DOI: 10.17826/cumj.383367

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate iron burden and possible target organ damage in childhood cancer survivors Materials and Methods: Files of patients treated for cancer and completed treatment at least 6 months ago were retrospectively evaluated for treatment duration, duration after cessation of treatment, relapse status, erythrocyte transfusion number given during treatment, liver function tests, ferritin levels, T*2 Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results. Results: 118 patients with solid tumors and hematological malignancies were included in the study. There were 44 (37.2%) female, 74 (62.8%) male patients with a mean age of 10.71 ± 4.64 years. There was a weak negative correlation between time after cessation of treatment and ferritin levels. A statistically significant weak positive correlation between ferritin levels and number of erythrocyte transfusions were. Ferritin levels were significantly higher in patients who had relapse (9/118) compared to patients with no relapse (109/118). Conclusion: Transfusion associated iron overload measured by ferritin level was higher patients who were more frequently transfused during treatment. However, abnormal iron accumulation in liver was not detected using qualitative analysis with T*2 MRI method.