Figure 2: T2* relaxation times in the heart, liver and spleen with representative images at TE = 1.8ms.

T2* relaxation was shortest in the iron-loaded thalassemia animals in the heart, spleen and liver. The hepatic T2* of the control thalassemia mice also showed a significant (p = 0.0042) reduction. Cardiac T2* showed the same trend as T2 with no significant change between control and thalassemia controls. (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001).