Purpose

To evaluate correlation and agreement between T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (T2*-wMRI), acoustic radiation force impulse elastography (ARFI-e) measurement results of liver and plasma ferritin levels (PFLs) in children with β-thalassemia major (β-TM).

Methods

The study included 40 pediatric patients (aged 64–216 months; 14 girls, 26 boys) receiving blood transfusion and chelation therapy. To detect the severity of liver iron overload (LIO) and concomitant parenchymal fibrosis, T2*-wMRI and ARFI-e measurements were performed from the right lobe segments. Student's t-test, Mann–Whitney U, ANOVA, Spearman's test and ICC were used for statistical analysis.

Results

After the measurements of T2*-wMRI, patients were grouped as normal in 4 (10%), mild in 11 (27.5%), moderate in 21 (52.5%), and severe in 4 (10%) cases in terms of LIO. Combined moderate and severe groups had significantly higher ARFI-e and PFL values than the combination of other groups (p = .001, p = .040). The ARFI-e measurements of boys were found to be significantly higher than those of girls (p = .023). A strong negative correlation between T2*-wMRI and ARFI-e and a moderate negative correlation between T2*-wMRI and PFL were detected (p;r = 0.001;-0.606, p;r = 0.009; −0.407). A strong positive correlation was found between ARFI-e values and PFL (p;r = 0.001; 0.659). The optimal cut-off value of ARFI-e to predict liver fibrosis because of moderate&severe LIO was determined to be 1.29 M/s (80% sensitivity and 88% specificity). A moderate agreement was observed between the T2*-wMRI and ARFI-e methods [ICC: 0.680, 95% CI: (0.470 to 0.817)].

Conclusion

Given the strong correlation and moderate agreement between ARFI-e and T2*-wMRI, ARFI -e could be used to monitor LIO in children with β-TM.