RADIOISOTOPE ASSESSMENT OF HEART DAMAGE IN HYPERTRANSFUSED THALASSEMIC PATIENTS

Twenty-five thalassaemic patients treated with repeated blood transfus ion (BT) and intensive iron removal therapy were studied by echocardio graphy and rest/stress equilibrium gated radionuclide angiocardiograph y (EGNA). Stress left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) showed an i mportant negative correlation with number of BTs (r=-0.75). Abnormal v alues of stress LVEF were measured after 200 BTs: these data demonstra te the effectiveness of stress LVEF in the follow-up of patients who h ave undergone repeated BTs and the clinical importance of intensive ch elation therapy. Peak filling rate did not show diagnostic value in th e early detection of iron cardiotoxicity. However, its inverse correla tion with BT (r=-60) indicates that iron overload depresses the diasto lic parameters.