The Effectiveness of Iron Chelator to Treat the Iron Overload of β-Thalassemia Major after High-Volume Blood Transfusion

Objective We want to explore the effectiveness of iron chelator to treat the iron overload of βthalassemia major after high-volume blood transfusion.Methods 84 cases of long-term maintenance of high levels of blood transfusion in β-thalassemia major patients were enrolled,36 cases in the insufficient group,and 48 cases in the sufficient group.The insufficient group was divided into 3 subgroups:deferoxamine(DFO),deferiprone(DFP),and DFO combined with DFP.The sufficient group was divided into 4 subgroups:DFO,DFP,DFX and DFO combined DFP.The serum ferritin(SF)changes were observed after one year.Results In the DFO and DPF subgroups of the insufficient group,SF levels were higher than those in a year ago,and in the DFO combined DFP subgroup,SF changes were not significantly different.In insufficient group,the SF changes in the DFO or DPF subgroup were not significantly different.Deferasirox or DFO combined DFP subgroups showed significant decrease in SF levels.The efficacy of Deferasirox is the best,followed by DFO combined with DFP.Conclusion The high-volume blood transfusion therapy for β-thalassemia major iron overload should be treated with sufficient amounts of iron chelator.The effects of Deferasirox and the DFO combined with DFP were good.The most common adverse effects were bone and joint pain and gastroesophageal reaction.