EXCLUSIVE WEBINAR | Iron Load and the Importance of Reliable Monitoring in Haemoglobin Disorders

📌 Webinar Title: Iron Load and the Importance of Reliable Monitoring in Haemoglobin Disorders – The Transfusion Dependent Thalassaemia (TDT) Perspective
📌 Date & Time: 5 December 2024 / 13:30 – 15:30 EET (Athens, Greece)

Webinar Overview:

This educational webinar will explore the vital role of accurate and reliable iron load monitoring in the heart and liver for the effective management of patients with transfusion-dependent thalassaemia (TDT).

Accurate and reliable iron monitoring is essential for guiding treatment decisions and improving patient outcomes, making this event an invaluable opportunity for Healthcare Professionals to deepen their understanding of best practices in TDT care.

In the first session, experts Professor Malcolm Walker, Professor Geoffrey Dusheiko, FCP (SA) FRCP FRCP Edin, and Prof. John Porter, MA, MD, FRCP, will discuss the necessity of accurate and reliable monitoring practices, the history and outcomes of cardiac iron load assessment, and the importance of monitoring liver iron concentration (LIC) in TDT.

In the second session, experts Professor James Moon, Professor John Wood, MD, PhD, Professor Tim St. Pierre, and Dr. Polyvios Demetriades will explore regional and technological perspectives on iron load measurement. The discussion will include experiences from the US and the UK and key insights on how MRI centers can ensure the reliability and accuracy of iron load measurements in the heart and liver.

The event will conclude with a dedicated Q&A session, providing attendees with the opportunity to engage directly with the experts.

Beyond the Surface: The Importance of Accurate Iron Overload Assessment

Iron overload is a major complication, commonly observed in individuals with transfusion-dependent thalassaemia (TDT), leading to organ damage especially in the heart and liver if not properly addressed.

To prevent the risk of iron-induced organ damage, thereby avoiding excess morbidity and mortality, iron chelation therapy (ICT) is employed as a standard treatment in the clinical management of thalassaemia.

However, without precise and quality-assured measurement of the patient’s iron levels, the effectiveness of ICT can be significantly compromised.

Survival of patients with TDT can be improved with a comprehensive understanding of iron toxicity, accurate and reliable assessment of total body iron, and the implementation of effective treatment strategies to reduce iron burden.

The Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF) is spearheading efforts to strengthen the education of healthcare professionals and patients and the dialogue among relevant stakeholders on the need for reliable and accurate measurement of iron levels in individuals with thalassaemia, other haemoglobinopathies and rare anaemias and to encourage the use of certified technologies to perform these measurements in Diagnostic Laboratories and Imaging Centres worldwide.

This educational event is made possible by the generous support of Chiesi Global Rare Diseases and Pharmacosmos.