Prevalence and Significance of Pancreatic Iron in Transfusion-Dependent Sickle Cell Disease.

BACKGROUND

Chronically transfused patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and beta thalassemia major (TM) develop iron overload.

OBJECTIVE

Determine the impact of iron overload on glucose regulation in SCD.

METHODS

Prospective study of 28 patients with SCD and 38 patients with TM who underwent liver and pancreas R2* measurements and oral glucose tolerance tests.

RESULTS

Impaired fasting glucose (2 vs. 9, p = 0.27) and impaired glucose tolerance (1 vs. 11, p = 0.019) were less common in patients with SCD compared with patients with TM. No SCD patient had diabetes.

CONCLUSION

Iron-mediated glucose dysregulation is present but less common in SCD patients.