Efficacy and safety of oral iron chelating agent deferiprone in beta-thalassemia and hemoglobin E-beta thalassemia.

Objectives : To assess efficacy and safety of oral iron chelating agent deferiprone (DFP) in patients with beta thalassemia and hemoglobin E-beta thalassemia. Design : Non-randomized study. Setting : Hematology Out-Patient Department. Subjects : Forty-one patients of beta thalassemia and hemoglobin E-beta thalassemia. Interventions : DFP was given to 20 patients, 10 patients of beta thalassemia and 10 with hemoglobin E-beta thalassemia ; the rest were taken as controls. Results : A significant fall in serum ferritin was observed in the study group along with rise in urinary iron excretion (p<0.05). Adverse effects of DFP were nausea and vomiting (30%), significant arthropathy requiring stopping of the drug (30%), and reversible neutropenia in one patient. All these complications could be managed easily with medical supervision and no death or permanent disability was seen. Conclusions : DFP is an effective and fairly well tolerated oral iron chelating agent. The side effects that occur can be tackled easily if monitored properly.