Grading Hepatic Iron Overload (HIO) in Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia

Myocardial iron overload (MIO) in transfusion-dependent thalassemia can be graded based on the amount of iron in the liver.

Patient selection: transfusion-dependent thalassemia

Analysis: amount of iron in mg in a mass of liver weighed in grams, which may be determined from:

(1) a liver biopsy

(2) T2* weighted MRI

iron content in myocardium =

= (mg of iron) / (weight of myocardium in grams)

Iron Content in mg per gram liver	Grade
< 2.00 mg per g	normal
2.00 to 6.99 mg per g	mild iron overload
7.00 to 14.99 mg per g	moderate iron overload
>= 15.00 mg per g	severe iron overload

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