scholarly journals Oral chelators deferasirox and deferiprone for transfusional iron overload in thalassemia major: new data, new questions

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 107 (9) ◽  
pp. 3436-3441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellis J. Neufeld
Keyword(s):  
Iron Overload ◽  
Cardiac Disease ◽  
Iron Status ◽  
Iron Chelation ◽  
Thalassemia Major ◽  
Myocardial Iron ◽  
Cardiac Events ◽  
New Era ◽  
Improve Compliance ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri

For nearly 30 years, patients with transfusional iron overload have depended on nightly deferoxamine infusions for iron chelation. Despite dramatic gains in life expectancy in the deferoxamine era for patients with transfusion-dependent anemias, the leading cause of death for young adults with thalassemia major and related disorders has been cardiac disease from myocardial iron deposition. Strategies to reduce cardiac disease by improving chelation regimens have been of the highest priority. These strategies have included development of novel oral iron chelators to improve compliance, improved assessment of cardiac iron status, and careful epidemiologic assessment of European outcomes with deferiprone, an oral alternative chelator available for about a decade. Each of these strategies is now bearing fruit. The novel oral chelator deferasirox was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); a randomized clinical trial demonstrates that deferasirox at 20 to 30 mg/kg/d can maintain or improve hepatic iron in thalassemia as well as deferoxamine. A randomized trial based on cardiac T2* magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggests that deferiprone can unload myocardial iron faster than deferoxamine. Retrospective epidemiologic data suggest dramatic reductions in cardiac events and mortality in Italian subjects exposed to deferiprone compared with deferoxamine. These developments herald a new era for iron chelation, but many unanswered questions remain.

Cardiac Iron Loading Measured by Multislice Multiecho T2* MRI and Cardiac Disease In Male and Female Patients with Thalassemia Major

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 4268-4268
Author(s):  
Alessia Pepe ◽  
Maria Marsella ◽  
Antonella Meloni ◽  
Valeria Caldarelli ◽  
Maria Chiara Dell'Amico ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Iron Overload ◽  
Cardiac Disease ◽  
Chelation Therapy ◽  
Thalassemia Major ◽  
Myocardial Iron ◽  
Heart Dysfunction ◽  
Female Patients ◽  
Cardiac Iron ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Males And Females

Abstract Abstract 4268 Introduction. Heart disease remains the main cause of mortality in thalassemia major patients. Female patients with thalassemia major have a proved lower prevalence of cardiac complications than males and survive longer. It has been suggested that females have a better compliance than males, and therefore accumulate less iron in crucial organs like the heart (Borgna-Pignatti C et al, Haematologica 2004). The aim of our study was to verify if the decreased prevalence of cardiac disease in females could be attributed to lesser iron accumulation in their hearts as measured by multislice multiecho T2* Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technique. Methods. We performed a retrospective review of the MRI results and of clinical data about the thalassemia major patients enrolled in the Myocardial Iron Overload in Thalassemia (MIOT) project. The MIOT is a network where MRI is performed using standardized and validated procedures and the MRI and thalassemia centers are linked by a web-based network, configured to collect patients' clinical and diagnostic data (Meloni A et al, Int J Med Inform 2009). Myocardial iron concentrations were measured by T2* multislice multiecho technique (Pepe A et al, JMRI 2006).Biventricular function parameters were quantitatively evaluated by cine images. Results. Seven hundred and seventy six thalassemia patients (370 males) were present in the MIOT database having undergone at least one MRI exam. The prevalence of cardiac disease (heart dysfunction and/or arrhythmias requiring medications) was significantly higher in males than in females (males 28% vs females 17%; P<0.0001). The analysis of different chelation treatments did not demonstrate a significant difference between patients with and without cardiac disease (P=0.59), nor between sexes (P=0.46). In addition, there was no difference in the reported compliance to chelation therapy between males and females (P=0.52). Global heart T2* values were significantly lower in both males and females with heart dysfunction (males: 20 ± 15 ms; females: 18 ± 12 ms), compared to those without dysfunction (males: 29 ± 11 ms; females: 27 ± 13 ms) (P<0.0001), but no difference was observed according to sex (Figure 1A). Global heart T2* values were not significantly lower in patients with arrhythmias compared to those without arrhythmias, nor was there a significant difference between sexes (Figure 1B). Conclusions. The confirmed higher prevalence of cardiac disease in males with thalassemia major was not correlated to a worse compliance to chelation therapy or to an higher cardiac iron burden. Increased survival of female thalassemia major patients seems to not be attributed to lower cardiac iron overload. It can be hypothesized that females tolerate iron toxicity better, possibly as an effect of reduced sensitivity to chronic oxidative stress. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Efficacy and Safety of Amlodipine in Preventing Myocardial Iron Overload in Patients with Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia Major : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 48-49
Author(s):  
Richi Kashyap ◽  
Muhammad Ashar Ali ◽  
Saad Ullah Malik ◽  
Farhan Khalid ◽  
Ali Jaan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Iron Overload ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Iron Concentration ◽  
Iron Chelation ◽  
Thalassemia Major ◽  
Iron Toxicity ◽  
Control Group ◽  
P Value ◽  
Myocardial Iron

Background: Patients diagnosed with thalassemia major who are transfusion dependant, have iron accumulation leading to iron toxicity and severe impairment in organs like heart, liver and endocrine organs which are highly sensitive to iron toxicity. This makes iron chelation therapy imperative for these patients. Half of the deaths resulting from iron toxicity related complications are attributed to cardiac complications. Iron chelation therapies have not been completely successful to prevent iron toxicity related complications like arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Higher doses of iron chelation therapies have been associated with various side effects. Studies have shown L-type calcium channel blocker might be able to reduce iron uptake by myocardium. The aim of this meta-analysis is to assess the efficacy and safety of amlodipine to reduce myocardial iron concentration (MIC). Methods: We used PICO framework to do a systematic literature search using four database PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science using keywords, "Thalassemia" AND "Amlodipine" from the inception till July 2020. The initial search showed 90 articles out of which, six randomized clinical trials (RCT) (N= 226) were selected after exclusion of case reports, case series, preclinical trials, review articles, meta-analysis, and trials not providing any information about preventing iron overload in patients with transfusion dependent thalassemia. We extracted the data for myocardial iron concentration (MIC), myocardial T2, ferritin, hepatic iron/liver iron concentration (LIC), liver T2, left ventricular ejection fraction, response rate and adverse effects. DerSimonian-Laird random effects model was used to derive mean differences along with their 95% confidence interval (CI) using comprehensive meta-analysis version 3.0. Results: In six RCT, 96 patients were tested in experimental group and 97 in control group. In five RCT total number of male participants were 45 in experimental group and 54 in control group. 33 patients had splenectomy in experimental group and 41 in control group. The age range was 8 years to 31 years. The myocardial T2 score increased in amlodipine group compared to standard chelation group with significant mean difference estimated to be -0.62 (95% CI: -0.95-0.29, p-value: &lt;0.001) in favor of amlodipine in meta-analysis of the four trials (Fig 1.). Statistically significant reduction in myocardial iron was seen in two trials on adding amlodipine to standard chelation therapy (N=55) (Table 1.) (Khaled et al and Fernandes et al). Significant difference was reported in liver T2 score and LIC at the end of six months between amlodipine and control group by Khaled et al. But, there was no statistically significant mean difference in serum ferritin and in liver MRI T2 between amlodipine group and control group with mean difference of -1143 (95% CI: -2410 to 124, p-value = 0.07) and -0.06 (95% CI: -0.463 to 0.338, p-value = 0.76) in meta-analysis of four and two trials respectively (Fig 2. And Fig 3.). El-Haggar et al compared amlodipine with spirulina and statistically significant improvement in myocardial T2 and NT-proBNP level was seen in both groups. Spirulina group also showed significant reduction in serum ferritin, which showed spirulina could also help reduce iron overload. Only mild adverse effects were reported by trials (Table 2.). No cases of severe hypotension, palpitation or any other serious adverse effects were seen in the amlodipine group. Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that addition of amlodipine 2.5-5 mg/day to standard chelation therapy with monitoring for potential adverse effects, could benefit patients with thalassemia major by reducing cardiac iron overload and thus improve survival and quality of life. Future studies are required to study the role of amlodipine in reducing iron overload in endocrine organs that also absorb iron through voltage-gated channels, particularly considering the close association of cardiac siderosis with endocrine complications and the correlation of pancreas and MICs. Disclosures Anwer: Incyte, Seattle Genetics, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals, AbbVie Pharma, Astellas Pharma, Celegene, Millennium Pharmaceuticals.: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Erythroferrone, Hepcidin, and Iron Overload Status in Iraqi Transfusion-dependent β-Thalassemia Major Patients

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasan Smesam ◽  
Hasan Qazmooz ◽  
Sareh Arjmand ◽  
Hussein Kadhem Al-Hakeim ◽  
Seyed Omid Ranaei‐Siadat,
Keyword(s):  
Iron Overload ◽  
Iron Status ◽  
Iron Chelation ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Thalassemia Major ◽  
Beta Thalassemia ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Beta Globin ◽  
Beta Thalassemia Major ◽  
Globin Chains

Beta thalassemia major (&beta;-TM) disorder characterized by the lack, or severe reduction in the production of hemoglobin &beta;-globin chains. The standard protocol for the management of &beta;-TM is blood transfusion and iron chelation therapy to reduce the iron overload state. The present study aimed to investigate the relationships between two iron regulatory hormones, hepcidin (HEPC) and erythroferrone (ERFE) levels and iron status parameters (ISPs) in Iraqi patients with &beta;-TM. ISPs and hormones were measured in sixty patients and compared with thirty healthy controls. The results indicated significant changes in different iron status parameters, while ferritin (FRT) with the ~11 fold increase showed the most change. Significant reduction in HEPC and increase in ERFE levels were detected in patients as compared to the control group, while no direct correlation was identified with the other measured ISPs. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the z-score of the composite of ERFE+FRT has a full diagnostic ability for &beta;-TM. In conclusion, our finding indicated the correlation between different ISPs, FRT as the leading predictor of iron overload and tow main iron regulatory hormones.

scholarly journals Endocrine complications

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincenzo De Sanctis
Keyword(s):  
Iron Overload ◽  
Chelation Therapy ◽  
Membrane Lipids ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Iron Chelation ◽  
Thalassemia Major ◽  
Cellular Iron ◽  
Active Iron ◽  
Bone Changes ◽  
Endocrine Complications

More than five decades ago, thalassemia major (TM) was fatal in the first decade of life. This poor prognosis changed since the survival rates started to increase progressively thanks to the implementation of continuous and significant improvement of diagnostic and therapeutic methods, consisting mainly of an intensive transfusion program combined with chelation therapy and imaging methods. Regular red blood cell (RBC) transfusions eliminate the complications of anemia, compensatory bone marrow expansion, bone changes and splenomegaly, restore the physiological growth throughout childhood and extend survival. The most serious disadvantage of life-saving transfusions is the inexorable accumulation of iron within tissues. Iron is physiologically stored intracellularly in the form of ferritin, a protein whose synthesis is induced upon the influx of iron. When the storage capacity of ferritin is exceeded, pathological quantities of metabolically active iron are released intracellularly in the form of hemosiderin and free iron within an expanded labile pool. This metabolically active iron catalyzes the formation of free radicals, which damage membrane lipids and other macromolecules, leading to cell death and eventually organ failure. Other factors contributing to the variability of cellular iron overload are: a) the cell surface transferrin receptors and the capacity of the cells to deploy defence mechanisms against inorganic iron; b) individual susceptibility to iron toxic effect; c) the development of organ(s) damage secondary to persisting severe iron overload in the years preceding iron chelation therapy; and d) liver disorders, chronic hypoxia and associated endocrine complications. Multi-transfused thalassemia major (TM) patients frequently develop severe endocrine complications mainly due to iron overload, anemia, and chronic liver disease, which require prompt diagnosis, treatment and close follow-up by specialists.

scholarly journals Hepatocellular Carcinoma in β-Thalassemia Patients: Review of the Literature with Molecular Insight into Liver Carcinogenesis

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 4070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoine Finianos ◽  
Charbel Matar ◽  
Ali Taher
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Iron Overload ◽  
Treatment Success ◽  
Iron Concentration ◽  
Iron Chelation ◽  
Multicenter Studies ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Liver Iron ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽  
Personalized Approach

With the continuing progress in managing patients with thalassemia, especially in the setting of iron overload and iron chelation, the life span of these patients is increasing, while concomitantly increasing incidences of many diseases that were less likely to show when survival was rather limited. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major life-threatening cancer that is becoming more frequently identified in this population of patients. The two established risk factors for the development of HCC in thalassemia include iron overload and viral hepatitis with or without cirrhosis. Increased iron burden is becoming a major HCC risk factor in this patient population, especially in those in the older age group. As such, screening thalassemia patients using liver iron concentration (LIC) measurement by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and liver ultrasound is strongly recommended for the early detection of iron overload and for implementation of early iron chelation in an attempt to prevent organ-damaging iron overload and possibly HCC. There remain lacking data on HCC treatment outcomes in patients who have thalassemia. However, a personalized approach tailored to each patient’s comorbidities is essential to treatment success. Multicenter studies investigating the long-term outcomes of currently available therapeutic options in the thalassemia realm, in addition to novel HCC therapeutic targets, are needed to further improve the prognosis of these patients.

scholarly journals Myocardial Tissue Characterization By T2 Mapping in Thalassemia Major

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 27-28
Author(s):  
Alessia Pepe ◽  
Nicola Martini ◽  
Rita Borrello ◽  
Vincenzo Positano ◽  
Laura Pistoia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Characterization ◽  
Spin Echo ◽  
T2 Mapping ◽  
Relaxation Times ◽  
Thalassemia Major ◽  
Fast Spin Echo ◽  
Myocardial Inflammation ◽  
Healthy Population ◽  
Myocardial Iron ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri

Introduction.The presence of iron deposits results in a significant reduction in all magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) relaxation times (T1, T2 and T2*). In the clinical setting the T2* technique is the method of choice for cardiac iron quantification and it has revolutionized the management of patients with hemoglopinopathies. Purpose.To compare myocardial T2 against T2* in patients with thalassemia major (TM) for myocardial iron characterization. Methods.133 TM patients (79 females, 38.4±11.3 years) enrolled in the Extension Myocardial Iron Overload in Thalassemia (eMIOT) Network were considered. T2 and T2* images were acquired, respectively, with multi-echo fast-spin-echo and gradient-echo sequences. Global heart T2 and T2* values were obtained by averaging the values in all 16 myocardial segments. The normal T2 range was established as mean±2 standard deviations on data acquired on 80 healthy volunteers (males: 48-56 ms and females: 50-57 ms). The lower limit of normal for global heart T2*, established on the same healthy population, was 32 ms. Results.A significant correlation was detected between global heart T2 and T2* values (R=0.577; P&lt;0.0001) (Figure). Out of the 113 (84.9%) patients with a normal global heart T2* value, none had a decreased global heart T2 value, while 58 (51.3%) had an increased T2 value. Out of the 20 patents with a decreased global heart T2* value, only 10 (50%) had also a reduced T2 value. Conversely, 9 (45.0%) had a normal global heart T2 value and one (4.5) showed an increased T2 value. The 59 patients with increased global heart T2 value were significantly older than the remaining patients (40.8±10.5 vs 36.4±11.6 years; P=0.019) Conclusion.All patients with decreased T2 value had also a decreased T2* value and in half of the patients iron load was undetected by T2, suggesting that T2 mapping does not offer any advantage in terms of sensitivity for MIO assessment. However, more than half of TM patients had an increased T2 value, thus may be caused by the presence of myocardial inflammation and/or edema. So, T2 mapping could reveal subclinical myocardial involvement in TM patients. Figure Disclosures Pistoia: Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.:Other: speakers' honoraria.Meloni:Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.:Other: speakers' honoraria.

scholarly journals Association between Native Myocardial T1 Mapping and Cardiac Function and Macroscopic Fibrosis in Thalassemia Major

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 26-27
Author(s):  
Alessia Pepe ◽  
Nicola Martini ◽  
Antonio De Luca ◽  
Vincenzo Positano ◽  
Laura Pistoia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Iron Overload ◽  
Myocardial Fibrosis ◽  
T1 Mapping ◽  
Thalassemia Major ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Lv Function ◽  
Myocardial Iron ◽  
Native T1 ◽  
Molli Sequence ◽  
Lv Volume

Background.Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is the only available technique for the non-invasive quantification of MIO. The native T1 mapping has recently been proposed as an alternative to the universally adopted T2* technique, due to the higher sensitivity for detection of changes associated with mild or early iron overload. Objective.To study the association between T1 values and left ventricular (LV) function in thalassemia major (TM) and to evaluate for the first time if T1 measurements quantifying MIO are influenced by macroscopic myocardial fibrosis. Methods.146 TM patients (87 females, 38.7±11.1 years) consecutively enrolled in the Extension-Myocardial Iron Overload in Thalassemia Network underwent CMR. Native T1 values were obtained by Modified Look-Locker Inversion recovery (MOLLI) sequence in all 16 myocardial segments and the global value was the mean. LV function parameters were quantified by cine images. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) technique was used to detect macroscopic myocardial fibrosis. Results.No correlation was detected between global heart T1 values and LV volume indexes, LV mass index, or LV ejection fraction. Foourteen (9.6%) patients had an abnormal LV motion (13 hypokinesia and 1 dyskinesia) and they showed significantly lower global heart T1 values than patients without LV motion abnormalities (883.8±139.7 ms vs 959.0±91.3 ms; P=0.049). LGE images were acquired in 88 patients (60.3%) and macroscopic myocardial fibrosis was detected in 36 patients (40.9%). The 72.2% of patients had two or more foci of fibrosis. Patients with macroscopic myocardial fibrosis had significantly lower global heart T1 values (921.3±100.3 ms vs 974.5±72.7 ms; P=0.027) (Figure 1A). Data about the LGE was present for 1408 segments (88 patients x 16 segments) and 105 (7.5%) were positive. Segments with LGE had significantly lower T1 values than segments LGE-negative (905.6±110.6 ms vs 956.9±103.8 ms; P&lt;0.0001) (Figure 1B). Conclusion.No correlation between T1 values and LV function parameters was detected, probably because the majority of the patients had normal or mild abnormal LV parameters. TM patients with macroscopic myocardial fibrosis showed significantly lower T1 values suggesting that T1 measurements for quantifying MIO are not influenced by macroscopic myocardial fibrosis and an association between myocardial iron and macroscopic fibrosis, previously detected only in pediatric TM patients. Figure Disclosures Pepe: Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.:Other: no profit support and speakers' honoraria;Bayer:Other: no profit support;ApoPharma Inc.:Other: no profit support.Pistoia:Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.:Other: speakers' honoraria.Meloni:Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.:Other: speakers' honoraria.

scholarly journals LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON LIVER FUNCTIONS IN PATIENTS WITH THALASSEMIA MAJOR BEFORE AND AFTER DEFERASIROX (DFX) THERAPY

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e2014025 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashraf Tawfik Soliman ◽  
Mohamed Yassin ◽  
Fawzia AlYafei ◽  
Lolwa Al-Naimi ◽  
Noora Almarri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Function ◽  
Iron Overload ◽  
Serum Ferritin ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Ferritin Level ◽  
Iron Chelation ◽  
Thalassemia Major ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Igf I ◽  
Liver Functions

With regular blood transfusion and iron chelation therapy, most patients with thalassemia major (BTM) now survive beyond the third decade of life . Liver disease is becoming an important cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. Chronic hepatitis and/or severe iron overload are important causes of liver pathology. Iron chelation with desferrioxamine (Desferal)  reduces excessive body iron, but its efficacy is limited by poor compliance and dose related toxicity. The recent use of Deferasirox (Exjade- DFX ), an  oral single dose therapy has improved the compliance to chelation therapy.Aims: To study the long-term liver functions in BMT patients, seronegative for liver infections before versus after DFX therapy in relation to ferritin level and IGF-I level.Methods: Liver function tests including: serum bilirubin, alanine transferase (ALT), aspartate transferase (AST) , albumin, insulin-like growth factor – I (IGF-I) and serum ferritin concentrations were followed every 6 months in 40 patients with BTM, with hepatitis negative screening (checked every year), for at  least   five years of DFO therapy and 4-5 years of DFX therapy .Results: DFX  therapy (20 mg/kg/day)  significantly decreased serum ferritin level in patients with BTM, this was associated with significant decrease in serum ALT, AST, ALP and increase in IGF-I concentrations. Albumin concentrations did not change after DFX treatment. ALT and AST levels were correlated significantly with serum  ferritin concentrations ( r = 0.45 and 0.33 respectively , p < 0.05) . IGF-I concentrations were correlated significantly with serum ALT (r= 0.26, p = 0.05) but not with AST, ALP, bilirubin or albumin levels.The negative correlation between serum ferritin concentrations and ALT suggests that impairment of hepatic function negatively affects IGF-I synthesis in these patients due to iron toxicity, even in the absence of hepatitis.Conclusions: Some impairment of liver function can occur in hepatitis negative BMT patients with iron overload. The use of DFX was associated with mild but significant reduction of ALT, AST and ALP and increase in IGF-I levels. The negative correlation between IGF-I and ALT concentrations suggest that preventing hepatic dysfunction may improve the growth potential in these patients.

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