Clinical Trial: T2* in Transfusion Dependant Anemia, MI, LVF, Normal Patients

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: Incidence of Cardiac Complications in Patients With Cardiac Siderosis During 1 Year Follow−up and the Normal T2* Ranges in LVF, MI and Normal Population.

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to provide accurate prognostic data linking cardiac complications to myocardial T2* values (A measure of iron levels in the heart using MRI)in patients predisposed to heart iron overload.

Detailed Summary:

Key Definitions Myocardial siderosis - Iron deposition that occurs in the heart, usually in relation to recurrent blood transfusions and red cell breakdown.

Thalassaemia - A hereditary form of anaemia leading to recurrent blood transfusions and iron overload.

Cardiomyopathy - Disease of the heart leading to heart failure. In the case of cardiac siderosis it is entirely reversible.

Chelation - Drug used to remove iron from the heart T2* CMR - Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging. A specialised scan that uses a large magnet to image the heart. As iron has magnetic properties we can use this scan to determine the amount of iron within the heart. T2* is a value that relates to the level of iron loading in the heart. A T2* of less than 10 relates to severe heart iron loading, a T2* of 10-20 relates to mild/moderate heart iron loading and a T2* of greater than 20 relates to no significant iron loading in the heart.

Heart failure - Disease in which the myocardium (heart muscle) weakens and can not pump blood efficiently. Fluid accumulates in the lungs, hands, ankles, or other parts of the body. The mortality from heart failure is very high.

Heterozygotes - An individual with one normal and one abnormal thalassaemia gene. They are carriers of the thalassaemia gene with milder clinical manifestations.

Homozygotes - An individual who has inherited both abnormal thalassaemia genes producing a more severe form of the disease.

Question Response Although a rare disease in the UK, thalassaemia is the commonest genetic disorder worldwide, with approximately 94 million heterozygotes for beta thal
Sponsor: Imperial College London

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Information By: Imperial College London

Dates:
Date Received: August 23, 2007
Date Started: January 2007
Date Completion:
Last Updated: August 23, 2007
Last Verified: August 2007