Liver susceptometry in non-transfused patients with sickle cell disease

Hemolysis in non- or rarely transfused patients with sickle cell disease may lead to higher iron stores. We prospectively studied their iron stores by using SQUID biomagnetic liver susceptometry. Liver iron concentration (LIC) and liver/spleen volume were measured at the Hamburg low TC-SQUID biosusceptometer facility in a total of 34 pediatric patients (age: 2–18 years). In vivo LIC values were measured in the normal range (median LIC=185 μg/g-liver, range: 6–636 μg/g), with 21% of the patients having sub-normal LIC<80 μg/g. Serum ferritin levels were mildly elevated with a median value of 121 μg/l, and liver volumes were 50% larger than normal values. In contrast to the expectation from ongoing hemolysis, LIC was in the normal range with total body iron stores slightly elevated, although iron deficiency anemia as defined by clinical parameters was present in 50% of the patients with sickle cell disease.