Publication:

Effect of intravenous Deferoxamine concomitant use with blood transfusion on serum ferritin in thalassemia major patients

Background Subcutaneous Deferoxamineis often not tolerated by patients and its rejection leads to iron overload with its complications. So, other methods with better toleration and reduction of Deferoxamine consumption are necessary. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of intravenous Deferoxamine infusion during blood transfusion on serum ferritin (SF) in thalassemia major patients.

Methods In a retrospective cross-sectional study, thirty four patients with β-thalassemia major treated with monthly blood transfusion at Bu-Ali hospital in Ardabil city from April 2013 to April 2014, were selected and followed for six months. The mean SF rate and the needed subcutaneous Deferoxamine rates before intervention were considered as baseline. All patients received intravenous Deferoxamine concomitant with their routine monthly blood transfusion for six months. After six months mean values for ferritin, subcutaneous Deferoxamine were compared with baseline values. Collected data were analyzed using t-test and paired t-test by SPSS, version 18.P<0.05 was considered as significant.

Results Compared with baseline, the subcutaneous Deferoxamine rate and ferritin level have been decreased significantly after intervention.

Conclusions Intravenous Deferoxamine concomitant use with routine monthly blood transfusion in thalassemia major patients can lead to decreasing of ferritin level. With this method, patient care could be improved, health care costs and complications of treatment effectively reduced.