The viability of the X-ray fluorescence technique as an alternative to follow up iron levels in patients suffering from thalassemia major (beta-thalassemia) and hereditary hemochromatosis was investigated. The measurements were carried out in the University Hospital Blood Center and in the Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Physics of the State University of Londrina. One thalassemia major patient and four healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. A portable X-ray fluorescence system consisting in a 238Pu X-ray source and a Si PIN diode detector was used for in vivo measurements of the hand. The system was calibrated using 15 to 150 ppm concentrations of iron in an aqueous solution. The duration of each measurement was 50 seconds. The achieved detection limit was 13 ppm of iron. The radiation dose on the skin was 10 mSv. The thalassemia patient presented with 74 ± 6 ppm of iron, whereas the healthy individuals presented with an average of 53 ± 5 ppm of iron. The results are in accordance with prior publications that reported iron levels in the skin of between 15 and 60 ppm in healthy people and between 70 and 150 ppm in thalassemia major patients. In conclusion the X-ray Fluorescence technique is viable in the follow- up of thalassemia major and Hereditary Hemochromatosis patients.
Thalassemia; iron-loading; fluorescence
