title: Orally active iron chelators in the treatment of iron overload.
abstract: Data from several trials have provided evidence for the efficacy of deferiprone in the treatment of iron overload in thalassemia major. Deferiprone has now been shown to induce sustained decreases in tissue iron to concentrations that are associated with survival free of the complications of iron overload in deferoxamine-treated patients. Despite this evidence of efficacy, the risk of agranulocytosis mandates a careful evaluation of the risk of this drug in patients willing and able to use deferoxamine. The incidence of agranulocytosis associated with deferiprone is under study in a prospective multicenter trial in Canada, Italy, and the United States, under corporate sponsorship by Apotex Research in Canada. The results of this study should determine the risk associated with the use of this agent and may provide the data required for a US Food and Drug Administration decision regarding licensing of this agent for the treatment of iron overload, a goal supported by investigators worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Haemoglobinopathy Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: N F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Olivieri
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D015913:Chelation Therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000077543:Deferiprone; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011728:Pyridones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D011728:Pyridones; D000077543:Deferiprone; D007501:Iron