eJHaem (Nov 2022)

Transfusion burden in early childhood plays an important role in iron overload in Diamond‐Blackfan anaemia

  • Jonathan R. A. deWilde,
  • Birgit vanDooijeweert,
  • Annelies J. vanVuren,
  • Elise J. Huisman,
  • Frans J. Smiers,
  • Arian vander Veer,
  • Richard vanWijk,
  • Wouter W. vanSolinge,
  • Edward E. S. Nieuwenhuis,
  • Eduard J. vanBeers,
  • Marije Bartels

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/jha2.524
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 4
pp. 1300 – 1304

Abstract

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Abstract In Diamond‐Blackfan anaemia (DBA), iron overload (IO) is common in transfusion‐dependent patients, yet has also been reported in non‐transfusion‐dependent patients. We explored the incidence of IO in transfusion‐dependent and non‐transfusion‐dependent DBA patients. We observed hepatic IO in 65% of patients analysed with MRI, including three patients that were only treated with transfusions in the past. Whereas overall ferritin levels and liver iron content correlated, ferritin levels did not reflect total body iron adequately. Our data suggest that transfusion burden in the past plays an important role in IO in DBA, and should be taken into account during follow up.

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