title: Posttransplant oral iron-chelating therapy in patients with beta-thalassemia major.
abstract: Allogeneic hematopoetic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only radical cure of beta-thalassemia. However, iron overload remains a cause of morbidity and mortality in posttransplant period. The authors present 7 patients as a preliminary report who underwent bone marrow transplant (BMT) and received oral chelating therapy (deferasirox) because of poor compliance to phlebotomy and desferrioxamine. The patients investigated mainly for possible side effects of deferasirox. No negative effect was seen in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hemoglobin (Hb), and donor chimerism of the patients while serum ferritin levels significantly reduced (P = .018). Although serum creatinin significantly increased (P = .034), it was in normal limits in all patients. The authors believe that this report shows promising findings to plan further studies to clarify clinical safety and efficacy of deferasirox in posttransplant period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: M Akif
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Yesilipek
authors.forename: Gulsun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karasu
authors.forename: Mediha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kazik
authors.forename: Vedat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Uygun
authors.forename: Zeynep
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ozturk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001565:Benzoates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003401:Creatine / Q000097:blood; D000077588:Deferasirox; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D001565:Benzoates; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D014230:Triazoles; D005293:Ferritins; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D003401:Creatine; D000077588:Deferasirox