Efficacy and Effects of Deferasirox and Deferiprone in Management of Iron Overload in Thalassemia

Mahaboob Basha Kallur; Kalavathi Jasmine Masillamoni

Volume : V, Issue : VIII, August - 2016

Efficacy and Effects of Deferasirox and Deferiprone in Management of Iron Overload in Thalassemia

Mahaboob Basha Kallur, Kalavathi Jasmine Masillamoni

Abstract :

Introduction: Thalassemia is an autosomal recessive disorder of defective B chain production leading to ineffective erythropoiesis. Hence, these children require regular blood transfusions to survive. Iron overload has deleterious effect on various organs hence it becomes very necessary to chelate the excess iron from body as human body has no means of excreting iron. In earlier days deferoxamine was treatment of choice, now we have better oral iron chelators namely Deferasirox and Deferiprone. Aims and Objectives: To compare the efficacy of oral iron chelators – Deferasirox and Deferiprone in reducing serum ferritin levels and to compare their side effect profile. Material and methods: The study was prospective stratified randomized comparative study conducted at Shadan Hospital, studied for 1 year. 41 children were selected for the study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. These children have received 10 – 15 ml/kg of packed red blood cells every 5 weeks. These 41 children were divided in to two groups. Group 1 and 19 children who received Deferasirox and group II had 22 children who received Deferiprone. Three children in Deferiprone group dropped from study because of severe arthralgia and 19 remained at the end of study