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Long‐term administration of high‐dose deferoxamine 2 days per week in thalassemic patients
Author(s) -
Hagège Isabelle,
Becker Annie,
Kerdaffrec Thierry,
Kanfer Alain,
Girot Robert
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0609.2001.00386.x
Subject(s) - deferoxamine , medicine , serum ferritin , ferritin , gastroenterology , patient compliance , surgery , anesthesia , emergency medicine
Objective: Compliance with parenteral administration of deferoxamine is often poor in thalassemic patients with iron overload. We tested the efficacy and tolerance of the drug at high dosage 2 d per week for 24 months in two adult thalassemic patients with permanently high serum ferritin using a portable pump and an implanted chamber. Methods: Deferoxamine was administered using a pressure‐operated portable pump through an implanted chamber. The patients were infused over 48 h every week with 198 mg/kg/d (patient 1) and 170 mg/kg/d (patient 2). Serum ferritin levels were measured at regular intervals. Results: Serum ferritin decreased progressively from 2967 to 457 µg/L in patient 1 and from 6476 to 1951 µg/L in patient 2. Compliance and tolerance to treatment were excellent in the two patients. Conclusion: Intravenous administration of high‐dose deferoxamine over 48 h per week using a portable pump and implanted chamber improved compliance in two thalassemic adult patients, resulting in a significant decrease in iron overload. We suggest that high‐dose chelation therapy should be assessed in selected groups of iron‐overload thalassemic patients receiving regular blood transfusions.