Abstract
Background: It is not known whether body weight alone can adjust for the volume of liver in the calculation of the chelating dose in β-thalassaemia major patients, who frequently have iron overload and hepatitis. Objective: The hypothesis is that liver volume in children and adolescents suffering from β-thalassaemia major is affected by ferritin level and liver function. Materials and methods: Thirty-five β-thalassaemia major patients aged 7–18 years and 35 age- and sex-matched controls had liver volume measured by MRI. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and ferritin levels were obtained in the thalassaemia major patients. Results: Body weight explained 65 and 86% of the change in liver volume in β-thalassaemia major patients and age-matched control subjects, respectively. Liver volume/kilogram body weight was significantly higher (P<0.001) in thalassaemia major patients than in control subjects. There was a significant correlation between ALT level and liver volume/kilogram body weight (r=0.55, P=0.001). Patients with elevated ALT had significantly higher liver volume/kilogram body weight (mean 42.9±12 cm3/kg) than control subjects (mean 23.4±3.6 cm3/kg) and patients with normal ALT levels (mean 27.4±3.6 cm3/kg).Conclusions: Body weight is the most important single factor for liver-volume changes in thalassaemia major patients, but elevated ALT also has a significant role. Direct liver volume measurement for chelation dose adjustment may be advantageous in patients with elevated ALT.
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Chan, Yl., Li, Ck., Chik, Kw. et al. Liver volume in thalassaemia major: relationship with body weight, serum ferritin, and liver function. Pediatr Radiol 35, 165–168 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-004-1328-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-004-1328-z