Management of Transfusional Chronic Iron Overload: Focus on Deferasirox

Most patients with hereditary or chronic acquired anemias are dependent on regular red cell transfusions. Untreated iron overload from transfusions is responsible for morbidity and mortality in patients with thalassemia major. However, clinical consequences of parenchymal iron overload have been reported not only in thalassemia major but also in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. The current standard in iron chelation therapy is deferoxamine mesylate (Desferal®). Deferasirox is the first oral iron chelator approved in the Europe Union for use in patients with transfusional iron overload with different diseases. The aim of this review is to examine the properties and management of Deferasirox.