Prevalence and significance of pancreatic iron in transfusion dependent
sickle cell disease.
Abstract
Background: Chronically transfused patients such as sickle cell
disease (SCD) and beta thalassemia major (TM) develop iron overload.
Objective: Determine the significance of pancreatic iron in
SCD. Methods: Prospective study of 28 SCD and 40 TM patients
who underwent research MRIs with liver and pancreas R2*. Patients with
normal fasting glucose underwent oral glucose tolerance test.
Results: Impaired fasting glucose (2 vs 9, p=0.27) and impaired
glucose tolerance (1 vs 11, p=0.019) were less common in SCD compared
with TM patients. No SCD patient had diabetes. Conclusion: 22%
had significant pancreatic iron, with 1/3 of those having impaired
fasting glucose.