Inpharma 1588 - 19 May 2007

Deferoxamine + deferipronebeneficial in thalassaemia

Combination therapy with deferoxamine anddeferiprone is more effective against iron loading inpatients with thalassaemia major than deferoxaminealone, report UK-based researchers.

In their double-blind trial, a total of 65 such patientsbeing treated with deferoxamine monotherapy wererandomised to receive, in addition, deferiprone75 mg/kg daily (n = 32) or placebo.

Using MRI, the combined treatment groupdemonstrated significant improvements in myocardialT2 from baseline at both 6 and 12 months(11.7ms vs 14.7ms and 17.7ms, respectively).Significant improvements were also seen in thedeferoxamine group (12.4ms vs 14.5ms and 15.7ms,respectively). However, the results for the deferoxamineplus deferiprone group were significantly greater (byapproximately 10%) than those of the deferoxaminemonotherapy group.

A significant 39% difference in liver T2 improvementswas seen between the two groups at 12 months, infavour of the combination therapy group.

The combination therapy was also associated with asignificantly greater reduction in serum ferritin levelsthan the monotherapy group (between-groupdifference, 40%).Tanner MA, et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of theeffect of combined therapy with deferoxamine and deferiprone on myocardial ironin thalassemia major using cardiovascular magnetic resonance. Circulation 115:1876-1884, No. 14, 10 Apr 2007 801074621

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Inpharma 19 May 2007 No. 15881173-8324/10/1588-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved