Abstract #2280

Storey P, Rigsby C, Carqueville C, Thompson A, Wood J

R2* measurements provide a non-invasive way to monitor iron burden in patients with transfusion-dependent anemias such as thalassemia major. The relationship between hepatic iron concentration and R2* has been established at 1.5T but not at 3T. In this study, liver and cardiac R2* values were measured at 1.5T and 3T in 20 control subjects and 6 patients. Normative values were 39.2&[plusmn]9.0s-1 (1.5T) and 69.1&[plusmn]21.9s-1 (3T) in the liver, and 23.4&[plusmn]2.2s-1 (1.5T) and 30.0&[plusmn]3.7s-1 (3T) in the heart. Over patients and controls, the relationship between 3T and 1.5T R2* values was linear, with a slope of 1.93&[plusmn]0.08 (liver) and 1.90&[plusmn]0.19 (heart).