title: [Curative effects and safety of deferasirox in treatment of iron overload in children with β-thalassemia major].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effectiveness and safety of deferasirox (DFX) in the treatment of iron overload in children with β-thalassemia major.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four β-thalassemia major children with iron overload who received regular blood transfusion were randomly enrolled. The serum feritin (SF) levels were measured in the patients after different doses of DFX treatment. The DFX treatment-related adverse events were observed. The values of cardiac MRI T2* and liver MRI T2* were compared between the patients receiving DFX treatment for 5 years and the patients treated with deferoxamine and deferiprone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients with iron overload did not respond to DFX at the initial dose of 20-30 mg/kg•d. However, the SF level decreased significantly after the dose of DFX increased to 30-40 mg/kg•d (U=58, P<0.01). Serum liver transaminase elevation was the most common adverse effect, followed by non-progressive elevation in serum creatinine level. The mean SF level was significantly lower (1748±481 ng/mL vs 3462±1744 ng/mL; P<0.05), in contrast, the liver MRI T2* value was significantly higher (8.5±2.9 ms vs 2.7±1.9 ms; P<0.01) in patients receiving DFX treatment for 5 years than in the controls. There were no significant differences in the cardiac MRI T2* value between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DFX can reduce SF levels in a dose-dependent manner in children with β-thalassemia major. It can significantly lower liver iron overload but not cardiac overload. Serum liver transaminase elevation and non-progressive elevation in serum creatinine level are major adverse effects in DFX treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518035, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Juan-Juan
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Guang-Fu
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chang-Gang
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001565:Benzoates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000077588:Deferasirox; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014230:Triazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D001565:Benzoates; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D014230:Triazoles; D005293:Ferritins; D000077588:Deferasirox