BETA THALASSEMIA MAJOR;

β-Thalassemia major (β-TM) is a genetic haemoglobin disorderwhich is relatively common in some geographical areas. β-TM is characterized by severe anaemia,which needs a continuous blood transfusion regimen starting from the first months of life toprolong survival. Objectives: To compare mean reduction in serum ferritin level with deferasiroxand desferrioxamine when used as an iron chelator in multi-transfused beta thalassemia major.Study design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Thalassemia clinic, The Children’s Hospitaland The Institute of Child Health, Lahore. Duration of Study with Dates: Study was carried outover a period of nine months from 28-06-2015 to 27-03-2016. Subjects and Methods: A totalof 100 patients (50 patients in each group). The patients were randomly allocated into twogroups using random numbers stable. Group-A received Deferasirox and group-B receivedDesferrioxamine. Results: Mean age of the patients was 7.42±4.13 and 7.87±4.13 in group-Aand B, respectively. Regarding sex distribution, 26 patients (52.0%) in group-A and 28 patients(56.0%) in group-B were male while 24 patients (48.0%) in group-A and 22 patients (44.0%) ingroup-B were female. Reduction from baseline in group-A was 783.60±413.66 ng/ml and ingroup-B 552.80±155.45 ng/ml (P<0.001) There was more reduction in group-A. In group-Abaseline serum ferritin level was 2495.00±1259.10 ng/ml and at 9 month 1712.00±1019.36 ng/ml (P<0.001). Similarly in group-B baseline serum ferritin level was 2422.80±910.43 ng/ml andat 9 month 1883±862.72 ng/ml (P<0.001). Conclusion: In conclusion, deferasirox was moreeffective in terms of reduction in serum ferritin level when compared with desferrioxamine inmulti-transfused beta thalassemia major patients.