ReviewAnnals of pediatric cardiology
QT and corrected QT prolongation as early markers of cardiac iron overload in pediatric transfusion-dependent thalassemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Review in Annals of pediatric cardiology. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Pancreatic Iron Overload Is Associated With Early QTc Prolongation Before Myocardial Iron Deposition in Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia.European journal of haematology · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) is a major health problem across the thalassemia belt. Although regular transfusions extend survival, they cause cardiac iron overload (CIO). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging T2-star (MRI T2*) is the gold standard for detecting myocardial siderosis, but it remains costly and has limited availability. QT and corrected QT (QTc) intervals have been proposed as simple, inexpensive alternatives, yet pediatric evidence is limited. This systematic review aims to assess the association between QT and QTc prolongation and CIO in pediatric TDT. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO ID: CRD420251051029). Searches were performed in PubMed, EBSCO, Scopus, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar for studies published between January 2015 and January 2025. Keywords included "β-thalassemia," "transfusion-dependent thalassemia," "pediatric,", "iron overload," "QT interval," "QTc interval," "cardiac MRI T2*," and "serum ferritin." Eligible studies reported QT/QTc intervals in pediatric TDT with CIO confirmed by MRI T2* and/or serum ferritin. Study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data were pooled using a random-effects model, with subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Seven studies involving 619 children were included; six provided data for meta-analysis. Both QT (mean difference [MD] 18.23 ms; 95% confidence interval [CI] 12.05-24.41; P < 0.00001) and QTc intervals (MD 21.15 ms; 95% CI 15.88-26.42; P < 0.00001) were significantly prolonged in the CIO group. Subgroup analyses confirmed consistent findings with low heterogeneity. QT and QTc prolongation are strongly associated with CIO in pediatric TDT.
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