SQUID-biosusceptometry in iron overloaded patients with hematologic diseases

Background: For the long-term survival of iron-loaded patients, early and well adjusted treatment with iron chelators; is of crucial importance, especially in children. Basis of the adequate treatment are appropriate diagnostic parameters which are capable to monitor the range of the individual iron burden. Patients: In the time period between 1989 and 2001, the status of iron loading was investigated in 1112 patients with post transfusion siderosis. Methods: The iron concentration in liver and spleen was quantified by SQUID-biosusceptometry. Using these values, the whole body iron stores were calculated. Results and discussion: Based on a large number of patients with secondary siderosis, the benefit of SQUID-biosusceptometry for non-invasive liver iron quantification was evaluated retrospectively. In patients under treatment with deferoxamin, a new therapeutic DFO-index was defined which respects liver iron concentration instead of serum ferritin. This results in a more reliable information about DFO overdosing in a given patient.