Deferasirox administration for the treatment of non-transfusional iron overload in patients with thalassaemia intermedia.
Abnormal iron regulation in patients with thalassaemia intermedia may lead to iron overload even in the absence of transfusions. There are limited data on iron chelator use in patients with thalassaemia intermedia and no guidelines exist for the management of iron overload. We present data from 11 patients with thalassaemia intermedia treated with deferasirox (Exjade(®) , 10-20 mg/kg/d) for 24 months. Liver iron concentration and serum ferritin levels significantly decreased over the first 12 months (P = 0·005) and continued to decrease over the remainder of the study (P = 0·005). This small-scale study indicated that deferasirox may be suitable for controlling iron levels in patients with thalassaemia intermedia.
First Department of Paediatrics, Athens University, Thalassaemia Unit, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital Encephalos-Euromedica Laboratories, Rizariou 3, Halandri, Athens Greece. thalas@paidon-agiasofia.gr
Vassilis
V
Ladis
Helen
H
Berdousi
Efstathios
E
Gotsis
Antonis
A
Kattamis
D000328:Adult; D001565:Benzoates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077588:Deferasirox; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism
D001565:Benzoates; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D014230:Triazoles; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron; D000077588:Deferasirox