title: Management of liver disease in thalassemia: main drug targets for a correct therapy.
abstract: Liver disease is the second cause of mortality in thalassemia major. We present a review on the hepatic damage in thalassemic patients aimed at a knowledge of current preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, useful to guide in clinical judgment and treatment decisions. Transfusion related iron overload and hepatitis are the causes of liver damage in thalassemic patients. We examined means of primary prevention, anti-hepatitis vaccinations, blood donors screening; diagnostic tests for secondary prevention (computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, super conducting quantum interference device and biopsy) were also discussed about. A survey of treatment methods and strategies ( chelation therapy, antiviral treatments and liver and bone marrow transplantation) follows.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biomedicina dell'Età Evolutiva, University of Bari - Policlinico - P.zza G. Cesare, 11- Italy. demattia@bioetaev.uniba.it
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Del Vecchio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nigro
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Mattia
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines