2.5. Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MRI examinations were performed on a GE 1.5 tesla MR device. MRI scans
were used to measure cardiac T2*
which is an MRI parameter representing relaxation, as well as myocardial
iron load. Imaging was acquired in a mid papillary shot axis during the
late cardiac cycle diastole phase in a single breath-hold with ECG
gating and cardiac T2* time was measured at mid-septum; ≤20 msec was
accepted abnormal myocardial iron load (13).