Diagnostic tools for the evaluation of body iron status in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome receiving regular blood transfusions.
| Diagnostic tool . | Current place in the evaluation of body iron status in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome . | Clinical significance . |
|---|---|---|
| Serum ferritin | The simplest noninvasive assay of body iron stores | The level of serum ferritin parallels the concentration of storage iron within the body, but inflammatory states and liver disease can disproportionately elevate the circulating protein |
| Transferrin saturation | Practical screening test for locating the site of ironaccumulation | Isolated reticuloendothelial iron overload is associated with normal transferrin saturation. Parenchymal iron overload is associated with elevated transferrin saturation |
| Serum hepcidin73,74 | Research tool at present | Inappropriately low hepcidin levels in patients receiving regular transfusions may indicate a high risk of parenchymal iron loading |
| T2* MRI technique to quantify liver iron concentration (LIC) | Likely to become a routine non-invasive method of assessing liver iron | Patients with elevated LIC are at risk of developing myocardial iron overload |
| T2* MRI technique to quantify myocardial iron concentration | Likely to become a routine non-invasive method of assessing myocardial iron | A pathological value (<20 ms) indicates a high risk of developing cardiac disease |
| Diagnostic tool . | Current place in the evaluation of body iron status in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome . | Clinical significance . |
|---|---|---|
| Serum ferritin | The simplest noninvasive assay of body iron stores | The level of serum ferritin parallels the concentration of storage iron within the body, but inflammatory states and liver disease can disproportionately elevate the circulating protein |
| Transferrin saturation | Practical screening test for locating the site of ironaccumulation | Isolated reticuloendothelial iron overload is associated with normal transferrin saturation. Parenchymal iron overload is associated with elevated transferrin saturation |
| Serum hepcidin73,74 | Research tool at present | Inappropriately low hepcidin levels in patients receiving regular transfusions may indicate a high risk of parenchymal iron loading |
| T2* MRI technique to quantify liver iron concentration (LIC) | Likely to become a routine non-invasive method of assessing liver iron | Patients with elevated LIC are at risk of developing myocardial iron overload |
| T2* MRI technique to quantify myocardial iron concentration | Likely to become a routine non-invasive method of assessing myocardial iron | A pathological value (<20 ms) indicates a high risk of developing cardiac disease |