Premium
Treating iron overload in patients with non‐transfusion‐dependent thalassemia
Author(s) -
Taher Ali T.,
Viprakasit Vip,
Musallam Khaled M.,
Cappellini M. Domenica
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
american journal of hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.456
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1096-8652
pISSN - 0361-8609
DOI - 10.1002/ajh.23405
Subject(s) - thalassemia , medicine , chelation therapy , blood transfusion , deferasirox , deferoxamine , randomized controlled trial , transfusion therapy , deferiprone , chelation , gastroenterology , intensive care medicine , chemistry , organic chemistry
Despite receiving no or only occasional blood transfusions, patients with non‐transfusion‐dependent thalassemia (NTDT) have increased intestinal iron absorption and can accumulate iron to levels comparable with transfusion‐dependent patients. This iron accumulation occurs more slowly in NTDT patients compared to transfusion‐dependent thalassemia patients, and complications do not arise until later in life. It remains crucial for these patients' health to monitor and appropriately treat their iron burden. Based on recent data, including a randomized clinical trial on iron chelation in NTDT, a simple iron chelation treatment algorithm is presented to assist physicians with monitoring iron burden and initiating chelation therapy in this group of patients. Am. J. Hematol. 88:409–415, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.