Ferritin and FerriScan in HCT recipients.

摘要

In this issue of Blood, Trottier et al. demonstrate that the outcome of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (HCT) was not significantly impacted by iron overload, as defined by liver magnetic resonance imaging (R2-MRI). This study implies that treatment decisions for iron overload should not be based on ferritin alone and that assessment of the liver iron content (LIC) may be a more accurate measure of body iron stores. Although a low serum ferritin is an accurate measure of iron deficiency, there is no accurate serum or plasma marker for body-iron overload. Previously, liver biopsy with iron determination by mass spectroscopy was the method of choice, but biopsy carries risk and is not suited for population-based studies. Several methods are available for this purpose and have, over time, been dominated by noninvasive techniques.