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THE EFFECTIVE USE OF OXYMETHOLONE IN THE THERAPY OF THALASSÆMIA WITH ANÆMIA
Author(s) -
Craddock P. R.,
Hunt F. A.,
Rozenberg M. C.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1972.tb47233.x
Subject(s) - medicine , erythropoiesis , context (archaeology) , splenectomy , haemolysis , pediatrics , anemia , immunology , biology , spleen , paleontology
Apart from repeated blood transfusions, folate therapy and splenectomy in cases of proven hyper‐splenism, there have been no recent advances in the therapy of thalassæmia. The following is a case report of a male patient suffering from heterozygous thalassæmia, who developed severe anaemia for the first time in adult life. Ineffective erythropoiesis, haemolysis and folate deficiency were all features of his anaemia. After six years of therapy with multiple transfusions, oxymetholone therapy was begun. A rise in haemoglobin value was rapidly achieved, and he has remained well without transfusion whilst continuing to take the drug for a follow‐up period of 18 months. The mechanism of action of oxymetholone in this context may be related to reversal of the deleterious effect upon messenger RNA activity caused by the Inherited thalassæmia gene. The remission produced by oxymetholone would suggest further trials of this drug in similar situations.