title: Effects of deferiprone on immune status and cytokine pattern in thalassaemia major.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was undertaken to evaluate the possible occurrence of immunological abnormalities in thalassaemia major patients treated with deferiprone (L1).
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal observational cohort study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The absolute number of CD8+ lymphocytes was high and the CD4/CD8 ratio low before L1 treatment; these parameters returned to normal after 3 months of L1 treatment. TNF-alpha, IL-2 and IL-2sRalpha were elevated before L1 treatment (11.83 +/- 1.75, 11.75 +/- 3.91, 1,409 +/- 621 pg/ml, respectively), while IL-6 was normal (2.58 +/- 0.79 pg/ml). After 12 months of treatment, IL-10 was higher than in previous periods, although always within the normal range. TNF-alpha, IL-2 and IL-2sRalpha returned to normal after 12, 6, and 3 months of L1 treatment, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biomedicina dell'Età Evolutiva, Università di Bari, Italia.
authors.forename: Giovanni Carlo
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Del Vecchio
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schettini
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Piacente
authors.forename: Attilio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Santis
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Mattia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D000077543:Deferiprone; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011728:Pyridones / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D011728:Pyridones; D000077543:Deferiprone