title: Glucose metabolism disorders improvement in patients with thalassaemia major after 24-36 months of intensive chelation therapy.
abstract: Thalassaemic patients with haemocromatosis often present with metabolic disturbances such as diabetes mellitus. A group of adult thalassaemic patients who received intensive oral and subcutaneous chelation therapy (Defferiprone/Ferriprox and Desferioxamine/Desferal) for a period of 24-36 months was studied for the presence of glucose metabolism disturbances (GMD). Investigation of the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was carried out by yearly oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT). Results showed that GMD (DM and IGT) improved in 1/3 of the patients after the intensive combined chelation treatment, a finding that we attributed to a reduction in liver iron deposits. Although this study is still in progress we believe that intensive combined chelation therapy may have a positive effect on glucose metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Thalassaemia Unit, General Hospital of Corinth, 53, Athens Avenue, 20100 Corinth, Greece. oplatis@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Odysseas
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Platis
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Anagnostopoulos
authors.forename: Kallisteni
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Farmaki
authors.forename: Markos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Posantzis
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gotsis
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tolis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015913:Chelation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000077543:Deferiprone; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011728:Pyridones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D011728:Pyridones; D000077543:Deferiprone; D005293:Ferritins; D003676:Deferoxamine