Incidence of Cardiac Complications in Patients With Cardiac Siderosis During 1 Year Follow-up and the Normal T2* Ranges in LVF, MI and Normal Population.

Key Definitions Myocardial siderosis - Iron deposition that occurs in the heart, usually in relation to recurrent blood transfusions and red cell breakdown.

Thalassaemia - A hereditary form of anaemia leading to recurrent blood transfusions and iron overload.

Cardiomyopathy - Disease of the heart leading to heart failure. In the case of cardiac siderosis it is entirely reversible.

Chelation - Drug used to remove iron from the heart T2* CMR - Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging. A specialised scan that uses a large magnet to image the heart. As iron has magnetic properties we can use this scan to determine the amount of iron within the heart. T2* is a value that relates to the level of iron loading in the heart. A T2* of less than 10 relates to severe heart iron loading, a T2* of 10-20 relates to mild/moderate heart iron loading and a T2* of greater than 20 relates to no significant iron loading in the heart.

Heart failure - Disease in which the myocardium (heart muscle) weakens and can not pump blood efficiently. Fluid accumulates in the lungs, hands, ankles, or other parts of the body. The mortality from heart failure is very high.