Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Journal of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Research 2008-5117 15 2 2023 06 29 The relationship of myocardial and liver T2* values with cardiac function and laboratory findings in transfusion-dependent thalassemia major patients: A retrospective cardiac MRI study 86 92 10.34172/jcvtr.2023.31592 EN Sepideh Abdi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1907-9471 Negar Taheri https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3578-0516 Fatemeh Zahedi Haghighi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1831-3649 Mahya Khaki https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5191-0384 Homa Najafi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1573-9698 Mohammad Mehdi Hemmati Komasi https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6221-2031 Behrooz Hassani https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2243-3187 Journal Article 10.34172/jcvtr.2023.31592 2022 06 21 2023 05 23 Introduction: Cardiac complications are the leading cause of death in thalassemia patients. It is assumed that progressive iron accumulation results in myocyte damage. Myocardial T2* measurement by cardiac MRI quantifies iron overload. We aimed to study the association between left and right ventricular (LV and RV) function and iron deposition estimation by cardiac MRI T2* in a sample of Iranian patients. Methods: Cardiac MRI exams of 118 transfusion-dependent thalassemia major patients were evaluated retrospectively. Biventricular function and volume and myocardial and liver T2* values were measured. The demographic and lab data were registered. Poisson and chi-square regression analyses investigated the correlation between the T2* value and ventricular dysfunction. Results: The study participants’ mean (SD) age was 32.7y (9.02), and 47.46% were female. Forty-nine cases (41.52%) revealed at least uni-ventricular dysfunction. LV dysfunction was noted in 20 cases, whereas 47 patients revealed RV dysfunction. The risk of LV dysfunction was 5.3-fold higher in patients with cardiac T2* value less than 10msec (RR=5.3, 95% CI=1.6, 17.1, P<0.05). No association was found between age, liver T2* value, serum ferritin level, and chelation therapy with the risk of LV and RV dysfunction. Conclusion: Cardiac MRI T2* measure is a good indicator of LV dysfunction. Moreover, MRI parameters, especially RV functional measures, may have a substantial role in patient management. Therefore, cardiac MRI should be included in beta-thalassemia patients’ management strategies.