Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr.  2024 Jul;27(4):215-223. 10.5223/pghn.2024.27.4.215.

Association between TransfusionRelated Iron Overload and Liver Fibrosis in Survivors of Pediatric Leukemia: A Cross-Sectional Study

• Sobhani M
• Honar N
• Fattahi M
• Haghpanah S
• Shakibazad N
• Bordbar M

• KMID: 2558120
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5223/pghn.2024.27.4.215

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.

Keyword

Iron overload; Leukemia; Liver function tests; Blood transfusion; Liver cirrhosis