Combination Oral Chelation in Adult Patients With Transfusion-dependent Thalassemia and High Iron Burden

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2019 Jan;41(1):e47-e50. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000001269.

Abstract

An open-label, pilot study was conducted to evaluate deferasirox/deferiprone combination chelation therapy in adult patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia and severe iron overload. Enrollment proved difficult. Nine patients (median age, 27.4 y; ferritin, 4965 ng/mL; liver iron concentration, 28.5 mg/g dry weight; cardiac T2*, 13.3 ms) received treatment. Two were withdrawn for treatment-related adverse effects. Arthralgia (4 patients) and gastrointestinal symptoms (5 patients) were common; no episodes of neutropenia/agranulocytosis occurred. Adherence difficulties were common. Of 6 patients with 12 to 18 months follow-up, 3 showed improvement in cardiac T2* and 2 in liver iron. Combination oral chelation may be effective but adverse effects and adherence challenges may limit efficacy.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Transfusion*
  • Deferasirox / administration & dosage*
  • Deferasirox / adverse effects
  • Deferiprone / administration & dosage*
  • Deferiprone / adverse effects
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Iron Overload / drug therapy*
  • Iron Overload / etiology
  • Male
  • Pilot Projects
  • Thalassemia / therapy*

Substances

  • Deferiprone
  • Deferasirox