title: Fulminant Liver Failure in a Child With β-Thalassemia on Deferasirox: A Case Report.
abstract: Deferesirox (DFX), an oral chelating agent, is used to treat chronic iron overload in several hematological diseases such as β-thalassemia, sickle cell disease, and myelodysplastic anemia. DFX is generally well tolerated with the exception of gastrointestinal disturbances and rash, although cases of renal toxicity, as well as acute and chronic liver failure, have been reported in adults and children. Here we describe a 3-year-old girl with β-thalassemia undergoing treatment with DFX who presented with acute liver failure and Fanconi's syndrome. It is important for pediatric gastroenterologists, hepatologists, and hematologists to be aware that the commonly used drug DFX can lead to acute liver failure in children, and liver function should be monitored closely in all patients taking DFX.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology ‡Pediatric Hepatology, Recanati/Miller Transplant Institute §Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY †Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: Archie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramaswami
authors.forename: Danya J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Birte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wistinghausen
authors.forename: Ronen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arnon
mesh_terms: D001565:Benzoates / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000077588:Deferasirox; D005198:Fanconi Syndrome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology*; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D001565:Benzoates; D014230:Triazoles; D000077588:Deferasirox