Korean J Hematol.  2010 Mar;45(1):58-61. 10.5045/kjh.2010.45.1.58.

Efficacy and safety of deferiprone (Ferriprox), an oral iron-chelating agent, in pediatric patients

• Won SC
• Han DK
• Seo JJ
• Chung NG
• Park SK
• Park KB
• Kook H
• Lyu CJ

• KMID: 2252088
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2010.45.1.58

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Iron overload is a predictable and life-threatening complication in patients dependent on the regular transfusion of RBCs. The aims of this study were to investigate the efficacy and safety of deferiprone in a variety of pediatric hematologic and/or oncologic patients with a high iron overload.
METHODS
Seventeen patients (age: 1.1-20.4 years; median: 10.6 years) from 7 hospitals who were treated with deferiprone from 2006 to 2009 were enrolled in this study. Medical records of enrolled patients were reviewed retrospectively.
RESULTS
Serum ferritin levels were 4,677.8+/-1,130.9 microgram/L at baseline compared to 3,363.9+/-1,149.7 microgram/L at the end of deferiprone treatment (P=0.033). Only 1 patient developed neutropenia as a complication.
CONCLUSION
Deferiprone treatment is relatively safe for pediatric patients suffering from various hematologic and oncologic diseases that require RBC transfusions as part of treatment. However, the potential development of critical complications such as agranulocytosis and/or neutropenia remains a concern.

Keyword

Deferiprone; Iron overload; Transfusion; Neutropenia

MeSH Terms

Agranulocytosis
Ferritins
Humans
Iron
Iron Overload
Medical Records
Neutropenia
Pyridones
Stress, Psychological
Ferritins
Iron
Pyridones

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Serum ferritin concentrations of all patients at baseline (■) versus end of study (▲). Compared to baseline, the decline in serum ferritin levels at the end of the study was statistically significant (P=0.033).

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