Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition

The Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (대한소아소화기영양학회)
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Association between Transfusion-Related Iron Overload and Liver Fibrosis in Survivors of Pediatric Leukemia: A Cross-Sectional Study

  • Mahsa Sobhani (Hematology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Naser Honar (Gastroenterology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Mohammadreza Fattahi (Gastroenterology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Sezaneh Haghpanah (Hematology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Nader Shakibazad (Hematology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Mohammadreza Bordbar (Hematology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences)
  • Received : 2023.01.29
  • Accepted : 2024.05.15
  • Published : 2024.07.15
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Abstract

Purpose: Patients who receive frequent blood transfusions are at an elevated risk of developing hepatic fibrosis due to iron overload in the liver. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of transient elastography (TE) (FibroScan®) for assessing liver fibrosis in patients with pediatric cancer. Methods: We enrolled 106 consecutive cases of acute leukemia in individuals under 21 years of age. The participants were followed for 2 years. Based on their serum ferritin (SF) levels, the patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (SF≥300 ng/mL) and group 2 (SF<300 ng/mL). A liver FibroScan® was performed, and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the various parameters in the liver function test (LFT), alkaline phosphatase was significantly higher in a subgroup of patients aged 5-8 years in group 2 compared to those in group 1. The indices of liver fibrosis determined by TE, including the FibroScan score, controlled attenuation parameter score, steatosis percentage, and meta-analysis of histological data in viral hepatitis score, as well as indirect serum markers of liver fibrosis such as the aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio, Fibrosis 4 score, and AST to platelet ratio index, did not differ significantly between the two groups. The association between the TE results and LFT parameters was only significant for ALT. Conclusion: Transfusion-associated iron overload does not have a significant correlation with severe liver fibrosis. FibroScan® is not a sensitive tool for detecting early stages of fibrosis in survivors of pediatric leukemia.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study was conducted as the thesis of M. Sobhani for getting her MD degree. We would like to thank Mrs. Farmani for helping us to prepare the manuscript and Shirin Parand at the Hematology Research Center of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences for the process of submission.

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