We quantified and compared cerebral blood flow (CBF) and oxygen delivery in patients with thalassemia intermedia and other chronic anemic patients and healthy controls, using arterial spin labeling MRI. Anemic patients exhibited elevated CBF globally and in grey matter (GM). While global and GM O2 delivery was preserved in anemic patients, white matter (WM) O2 delivery was 20% lower in this cohort compared to healthy controls. Age was the strongest predictor for both CBF and O2 delivery, but the mechanisms of decreased WM O2 delivery needs further study, given the inadequate neovascularization in response to chronic hypoxia and other factors.
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