Renal Iron Load In Sickle Cell Anemia Patients - A Brazilian Study

Background and Objectives: Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is characterized by chronic haemolysis and frequent painful vaso-occlusive episodes, eventually leading to multiple organ damage, including the kidneys. Chronic haemolysis is frequent in SCA patients receiving regular transfusions. Not all renal disease in patients with SCA is due to sickle cell nephropathy (SCN), but the incidence of renal failure increases as patient survival improves. Since Magnetic Resonance Image can provide a unique evaluation of the abdomen in a single exam, the aim of this study was to assess renal iron deposits in patients with SCA, correlating these values with transfusion burden, liver and heart T2* and blood LDH levels.