title: Chelation therapy in patients with thalassemia using the orally active iron chelator deferiprone (L1).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Excessive hemosiderosis is the main reason for the multi-organ failure observed in multitransfused patients. Deferiprone (1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-pyridine-4-one, L1) is an orally active iron chelator mainly excreted via urine. We conducted a study in order to determine the efficacy and safety of L1 in Greek thalassemic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 11 thalassaemic patients entered the study; L1, the Cipla formulation for deferiprone, at a daily dose of 75-100 mg/kg bw t.i.d. was used. After giving informed consent all patients were subjected to clinical examination and biological tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients tolerated the L1 well; there were no significant side effects (except for slight gastrointestinal disturbances for the first days). The net urinary iron excretion ranged from 6.96 to 26.1 mg/24h. Serum ferritin declined within 4-6 months in most of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that L1 is a rather safe drug which decreases iron overload without causing any considerable side-effects in Greek thalassemics.
authors.affiliation: First Dept. of Medicine, Athens University Medical School, Laikon Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece. yrombos@otenet.gr.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rombos
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tzanetea
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konstantopoulos
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simitzis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zervas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kyriaki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kavouklis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aessopos
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sakellaropoulos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karagiorga
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kalotychou
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Loukopoulos
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000077543:Deferiprone; D006801:Humans; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011728:Pyridones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D011728:Pyridones; D000077543:Deferiprone