Combined Desferrioxamine (Desferal) and Deferasirox in Children

2 Abstract: Recurrent blood transfusion as a supportive treatment for major thalassemic patients would eventually produce an iron overload, severe consequences and even mortality. A number of iron chelators are used to reduce its side effects. The present research seeks to compare the level of serum ferritin in major thalassemic patients in the Desferal treatment group and the other group treated with Desferal and deferasirox together, in Bandar Abbas (2012-13). 94 major thalassemic patients dependent on blood transfusion were selected and then randomly divided in two groups. 48 participants belonged to the counter-Desferal (deferoxamine) group with a dosage of 50 mg/kg transfused 3 times a week. 46 participants belonged to the group treated with Desferal combined with oral deferasirox (20-40 mg/kg) for the duration of one year. The level of ferritin was measured before the study and 3, 6, 9 and 12 months later. Alterations in liver enzymes, a complete blood test and the level of creatinine were measured before the research and also 12 months later. Having been collected, the data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tests and t-test. Results revealed that Ferritin level of the control group were 4094.4±4552.84 µg/L at the outset and was altered to 3441.2±1910.0 µg/L at the end. In the treatment group, it reduced from 4004.8±1717.14 µg/L to 529.04±1540.36 µg/L. The degree of reduction was not statistically significant. A slight amount of leukocytosis and an increase in liver enzymes were observed, but not to a significant degree. the combinational treatment of deferasirox and deferoxamine lowered the serum level of ferritin. However, it was not more effective than treatment with the mere deferoxamine. We suggest more controlled research to be conducted to better investigate the medical effect and consequences of the combinational treatment compared to the single treatment.