Deferasirox for the Treatment of Transfusional Iron Overload in Sickle Cell Anemia. Preliminary Results

Abstract The majority of patients with sickle cell anaemia have received repeated blood transfusions by adulthood. Because the body has no physiological mechanism to actively excrete the excess of iron, chelation therapy is important for the management of iron overload and its complications, including iron deposition into the liver, heart and endocrine organs, eventual death. While studies are limited, progressive iron loading and subsequent tissue injury in sickle cell disease appears similar to other transfused populations. Deferasirox (Exjade, ICL670) is a once-daily, oral iron chelator that is approved for the first-line treatment of chronic transfusional iron overload. Its safety, tolerability and efficacy in reducing body iron burden have been demonstrated in patients with β-thalassaemia major and in other chronic transfusion-dependent anaemias. The objectives of this prospective, non-randomised, phase IV trial were to evaluate the iron overload status, before and after one year-treatment with deferasirox, using liver iron concentration (LIC) by MRI of the liver, MRI cardiac (Cardiac T2*), serum ferritin and the impact of deferasirox treatment on these measurements, and to evaluate the safety and tolerability of this drug. A total of 30 patients with sickle cell anemia and iron overload, defined as the use of ≥ 20 units of RBC units and/or two plasma ferritin levels ≥ 1000 mcg/L during the 6 months preceding enrollment, received starting dose of 20mg/kg/day of deferasirox. Efficacy was assessed monthly by measuring change from baseline in serum ferritin levels. Safety was evaluated on a monthly basis according to the incidence and type of adverse events and measurement of laboratory parameters, including serum creatinine and liver enzyme levels. Mean (range) age 26.4 ± 12.3y (9–49), 83% female, 93% afrodescendent, 60% on regular blood transfusion, mean deferasirox exposure 30.1 ± 5.6 weeks (16–39), mean MRI hepatic (LIC, μmol/g) 233.0 ± 98.8 (45 – 350), mean MRI cardiac (Cardiac T2*, ms) 41.20 ± 5.46 (27.52 – 51.19). Median ± SD and mean (range) serum ferritin level (mcg/L) at baseline and 6 months varied from 2315.5 ± 1083.9 to 2062.5 ± 1320.8 (p=0.032) and 2012.0 (1013–6074) to 1654.0 (688–6729), respectively. The proportion of patients with serum ferritin levels < 2000, 2000- <3000 and ≥ 3000 mcg/L from baseline to 6 months by percentage of patients changed from 50% to 60%, 26.7% to 26.7% and 23.3% to 13.3%, respectively. The most common drug-related AEs were mild, transient diarrhea (23.3%), headache (20.0%) and nausea (16.7%). Maculo-papular skin rash and serum creatinine increases upper limit of normal were observed in 2 (6.7%) patients. No patient experienced progressive increases in serum creatinine or renal failure. Our preliminary data, over 6-month-period of treatment, confirms that deferasirox is effective and generally well tolerated in pediatric and adult patients, and appears to have similar efficacy to deferoxamine in reducing body iron burden in transfused patients with sickle cell anemia. The availability of deferasirox as a once-daily, oral alternative would potentially facilitate improved compliance, and thereby reduce morbidity and mortality from iron overload.

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Deferasirox for the Treatment of Transfusional Iron Overload In Sickle Cell Anemia: a 2-Yr Prospective Study

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v116.21.5148.5148 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 116 (21) ◽

pp. 5148-5148

Author(s):

Rodolfo Cancado ◽

Maria Cristina Olivato ◽

Paula Bruniera ◽

Murilo Rezende Melo ◽

Carlos Chiattone

Keyword(s):

Serum Creatinine ◽

Iron Overload ◽

Sickle Cell ◽

Iron Chelator ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Oral Iron ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Once Daily ◽

Body Iron ◽

Oral Iron Chelator

Abstract Abstract 5148 Background: Majority of patients with sickle cell disease receive repeated blood transfusions by adulthood. Because the body has no physiological mechanism to actively excrete excess iron, chelation therapy is important for the management of iron overload and its complications, including iron deposition into the liver, heart and endocrine organs, eventual death. Deferasirox (DFX) is a once-daily, oral iron chelator that is approved as first-line treatment of chronic transfusional iron overload. Its safety, tolerability and efficacy in reducing body iron burden have been demonstrated in patients with β-thalassaemia major and in other chronic transfusion-dependent anaemias, including SCD. Aims and Methods: Objectives of this prospective, non-randomised, phase IV trial were to evaluate the iron overload status, before and after two year-treatment with DFX, using liver iron concentration [LIC, mg/d dry weight (dw)] by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) hepatic, MRI cardiac (Cardiac T2*, ms), serum ferritin (SF, μ g/L), and to evaluate the safety and tolerability of DFX. Results: A total of 31 patients with SCD and iron overload, defined as the use of ≥ 20 units of RBC units and/or two SF levels ≥ 1000 μ g/L during the 6 months preceding enrollment, received starting dose of 20mg/kg/day of DFX. Efficacy was assessed monthly by measuring change from baseline in SF levels. Safety was evaluated on a monthly basis according to the incidence and type of adverse events and measurement of laboratory parameters, including serum creatinine and liver enzyme levels. Two patients discontinued treatment at 8 and 9 months, due to pregnancy and moving to other city, respectively. One patient died at 18 months due to pulmonary infection and hemorrhagic stroke. DFX was interrupted in 3 patients due to confirmed SF levels <500 μ g/L at 18-month period of treatment and DFX was not reinstated in none of them during the final 6 months of study. Twenty-five patients completed 2-year treatment. Mean ± SD age 26.9 ± 12.5y; 84% female, 90% afrodescendent, 61.3% on regular blood transfusion; median (range) DFX dose over 24 months and DFX exposure were 20 mg/kg/day (15-25) and 90.5 weeks (35.6-98.0), respectively. Mean SF level (μ g/L) did not significantly reduced at 12 months (p=0.052) but significantly dropped at 24 months compared to baseline [from 2344.6 to 1986.3 (p=0.040)]. Mean ± SD LIC significantly dropped at 12 months and at 24 months compared to baseline [from 13.0 ± 5.4 to 10.4 ± 6.3 (p=0.001) and to 9.3 ± 5.7 (p<0.001), respectively]. The proportion of patients with LIC levels (mg/g dw) ≤7.0, >7.0- ≤14.0 and >14.0 from baseline to 24 months by percentage of patients changed from 13.6% to 44.0%, 40.9% to 44.0% and 45.5% to 12.0%, respectively. In all patients, Cardiac T2* was normal (> 20 ms) at baseline, 12 and 24 months of treatment. There was no significant difference between left ventricular ejection fraction values at baseline and after 12 months but this parameter significantly increased at 24 months of treatment compared to baseline [from 62.2 ± 6.0 to 64.6 ± 6.2 (p=0.02)]. The most common drug-related AEs were mild, transient diarrhea (7 pts), headache (7), nausea (5), vomiting (3), skin rash (2), increases in ALT (2), serum creatinine increases that exceeded the ULN (2). No patient experienced progressive increases in serum creatinine or renal failure. Conclusions: Our data confirms that deferasirox is effective in reducing body iron burden in transfused patients with SCD, well tolerated in pediatric and adult patients and with a clinically manageable safety profile. The availability of deferasirox as a once-daily, oral iron chelator would potentially facilitate improved compliance, and thereby reduce morbidity and mortality from iron overload. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Safety and Efficacy of High Dose Intravenous Desferoxamine for Reduction of Iron Overload Due to Chronic Transfusion in Sickle Cell Patients.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v112.11.1430.1430 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 112 (11) ◽

pp. 1430-1430

Author(s):

Ram Kalpatthi ◽

Brittany Peters ◽

David Holloman ◽

Elizabeth Rackoffe ◽

Deborah Disco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Serum Creatinine ◽

Iron Overload ◽

Sickle Cell ◽

Serum Ferritin ◽

Liver Tissue ◽

Iron Concentration ◽

P Value ◽

High Dose ◽

Liver Iron ◽

Iron Storage

Abstract Background: Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) receiving chronic blood transfusions are at risk of developing iron overload and organ toxicity. Chelation therapy with either subcutaneous (SQ) desferoxamine (DFO) or oral deferasirox is effective in preventing and reducing iron overload but poses significant challenges with patient compliance. Intravenous (IV) infusions of high dose DFO (HDD) have been utilized in non compliant patients with heavy iron overload in small case series. We review our experience of high dose IV DFO in a large cohort of SCD patients with significant iron overload who are non compliant with SQ DFO. Methods: The medical records of SCD patients who received HDD in our center between 1993 and 2004 were reviewed. All of them were on chronic transfusion, had significant iron overload defined by serum ferritin > 1500 and/or liver iron concentration (LIC) more than 10 μg/g of liver tissue and were non-compliant with SQ DFO. All patients underwent annual ophthalmologic, hearing, pulmonary and cardiac evaluation. Demographic data, treatment details, serum ferritin levels, liver iron concentration (LIC), liver enzymes, renal function tests, audiogram and other relevant clinical data were collected. Results: There were 27 patients (19 males, 8 females), 19 patients were on transfusion for history of cerebrovascular accident, 5 for abnormal transcranial Doppler flow velocity, 2 for transient ischemic attack and one for recurrent pain crises. All continued to receive packed red blood cell transfusions aimed to keep HbS levels below 30 or 50% during this time. They were treated in-hospital with DFO 15 mg/kg/hr IV for 48 hrs every 2 weeks (20 patients), 3 weeks (4 patients) and 4 weeks (3 patients). The mean age at start of high dose regimen was 14.6 years (range 9–27 years). The mean duration of HDD treatment was 8.9 months (range 3–49 months). Fourteen patients had LIC determined by liver biopsy. Significant reductions in LIC were observed after HD (table I). This was more pronounced in patients who had higher LIC and received at least 6 months of HDD. Histological examination of liver biopsies revealed a decrease in the grade of liver iron storage. Four patients had portal triaditis initially which resolved after starting HDD therapy. Also there was significant improvement in liver enzymes (ALT, AST) after HDD. There was a trend in decreasing ferritin levels after HDD but this did not achieve statistical significance. All patients tolerated HDD without any major reactions. No audiologic or ophthalmologic toxicity or acute or chronic pulmonary complications were observed. Blood urea nitrogen remained normal in all patients after HDD but there was mild increase in serum creatinine. One patient had high serum creatinine (1.2 mg/dL) after two doses HDD. This patient had focal segmental glomeurosclerosis which was most probably the cause for the rise in creatinine. There was no significant increase in serum creatinine in our series when this patient was excluded. Conclusions: In our cohort of SCD patients we observed a significant decrease in liver iron burden with high dose IV DFO. Our patients tolerated the therapy well without any major toxicity. This regimen is safe and may be an option for poorly compliant patients with significant iron overload. In addition, combination of this regimen with oral iron chelators may be of benefit to patients with significant iron overload and organ dysfunction. Table 1: Laboratory characteristics of sickle cell patients before and after high dose IV DFO Parameter No. of Patients Mean (SD) prior to HDD Mean (SD)after HDD p Value* * Changes in mean levels analyzed using two-tailed Paired T Test with significant p value ≤ 0.05. SD – Standard deviation + See text Liver iron (μg/g of liver tissue ) 14 16864 (10903) 12681 (8298) 0.04 Liver iron min of 6 months of HDD (μg/g of liver tissue ) 8 18677 (8319) 9362 (4521) 0.01 Liver iron >10 mg & minimum 6 months of HDD (μg/g of liver tissue) 7 21181 (7054) 10092 (4443) 0.01 Grade of liver iron storage 14 3.57 (0.9) 3.07 (1) 0.05 Serum Ferritin (ng/mL) 27 3842 (2619) 3238 (1780) 0.06 Serum AST (IU/L) 27 54.1 (27.2) 44.6 (17.6) 0.04 Serum ALT (IU/L) 27 39.2 (36) 27.5 (14.2) 0.01 Blood urea nitrogen (mg/dL) 27 8.9 (2.9) 9.5 (4.3) 0.20 Serum Creatinine (mg/dL)+ 26 0.50 (0.1) 0.55 (0.2) 0.07

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High Transferrin Saturation Is Associated with Lower Monocytic Ferritin Heavy Chain Expression in Sickle Cell Anemia Patients

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v124.21.4058.4058 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 124 (21) ◽

pp. 4058-4058

Author(s):

Kleber Yotsumoto Fertrin ◽

Carolina Lanaro ◽

Carla Fernanda Franco-Penteado ◽

Dulcinéia Martins Albuquerque ◽

Betania Lucena Hatzlhofer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Iron Overload ◽

Sickle Cell ◽

Serum Ferritin ◽

Iron Metabolism ◽

Sickle Cell Anemia ◽

Transferrin Saturation ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Iron Storage ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Ferroxidase Activity

Abstract The pathophysiology of sickle cell anemia (SCA) involves hemolysis, vaso-occlusion and a chronic inflammatory state. Iron overload secondary to blood transfusions is a frequent complication in these patients, but cannot be adequately estimated by serum ferritin levels, because ferritin is also an acute phase reactant. Although excess iron elevates both ferritin levels and transferrin saturation (TSAT) in SCA patients, there is notorious discrepancy between these parameters. Ferritin is composed of heavy (FHC) and light chains (FLC), and ferroxidase activity by FHC is an important cytoprotective mechanism against redox-iron, a product of heme breakdown and largely present in overt iron overload. Previous studies have shown that overexpression of FHC in sickle cell mice prevented free hemoglobin-induced vaso-occlusion. Since ferritin is also highly expressed in circulating monocytes, and these cells have been shown to interact with other cellular types in the sickle cell vaso-occlusive process, we aimed to characterize ferritin chains in monocytes and investigate the relationship with biomarkers of iron metabolism, inflammation and hemolysis. Peripheral blood monocytes from sixteen adult sickle cell anemia patients in steady state were isolated using a double Ficoll-Percoll density gradient to separate monocytes from neutrophils and lymphocytes. FHC, FLC, TLR4 (toll-like receptor 4), and SLC40A1(ferroportin) gene expressions were determined by RT-qPCR. Blood samples were also collected to determine serum ferritin, iron, and TSAT, and plasma levels of lactate dehydrogenase, soluble transferrin receptor, erythropoietin, and C reactive protein. We found that the expression of TLR4, a receptor known to be activated by heme, correlated with FLC, but not FHC expression. Higher TLR4 expression was also associated with higher serum iron, but not with ferritin, TSAT, or LDH. Interestingly, we did not find a correlation between C reactive protein levels and ferritin in this group of patients. As expected, the expressions of both ferritin chains were correlated with each other (P=0.027, r=0.55), but we found the strongest correlation between FHC and TSAT (P=0.0008, r=-0.652). Patients with a TSAT over 40% had significantly lower expression of monocytic FTH (P=0.003). This suggests that either excessive iron can lead to FHC downregulation in monocytes, or that a decrease in monocytic ferritin ferroxidase activity in some SCA patients may impair safe iron storage in ferritin and contribute to the development of higher TSAT, independently from ferritin levels. Our data support that human monocyte regulation of ferritin chains in SCA patients mirrors what has been described in hepatic cells in a sickle cell mouse model. Patients with increased TSAT may be relatively deprived of the cytoprotective ferroxidase activity of FHC, and a relationship between FHC deficiency and complications in SCA remains to be investigated. Further studies should also address whether FHC in monocytes influences cell adhesion, thus supporting an important role for iron trafficking in cells involved in sickle cell vaso-occlusion, and corroborating other studies associating organ damage in SCA with iron metabolism dysregulation. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Real-World Experience of Switching from Deferasirox Dispersible to Film-Coated Tablets: Impact on Adherence to Chelation Therapy, Iron Overload and Renal Function

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2018-99-119030 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 1062-1062

Author(s):

Simon Cheesman ◽

Raakhee Shah ◽

Sara Trompeter ◽

Perla Eleftheriou ◽

Bernadette Hylton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Renal Function ◽

Serum Creatinine ◽

Iron Overload ◽

Serum Ferritin ◽

Patient Adherence ◽

Beta Thalassemia ◽

Daily Dose ◽

Baseline Values ◽

The Mean ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Chronic iron overload is an important complication of long-term blood transfusions for severe beta-thalassemias, sickle cell disease and other blood disorders. Iron chelation therapy (ICT) is required to bind and excrete excess iron, which would otherwise accumulate and lead to organ damage or failure. Deferasirox is a once-daily, orally administered ICT approved for the treatment of chronic iron overload due to frequent blood transfusions in patients with beta-thalassemia major and other anaemias. A film-coated tablet (FCT) formulation was launched in the UK in 2016 and replaced the dispersible tablet (DT) formulation. In the context of a randomised clinical trial, the FCT formulation showed greater adherence and patient satisfaction, better palatability and fewer tolerability concerns than the DT. Furthermore, treatment compliance by pill count was higher with FCT (92.9%) than with DT (85.3%) (Taher et al, 2017). Little information exists however about compliance, efficacy and tolerability outside of a clinical trial setting. Objectives We wished to assess in a 'real world' situation, the effects of switching the deferasirox formulation from DT to FCT on patient adherence to ICT, iron overload and renal function. Methods Patients receiving ICT with deferasirox who were switched from the DT to FCT formulations were followed over a 12-month period and results audited using hospital dispensing and biochemistry records. The date of the first FCT prescription was defined as baseline. The initial daily dose used for switching from DT to FCT was as per manufacturer's recommendations: 70% of the DT daily dose. The impact on iron overload was assessed by comparing serum ferritin levels at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months post-switch with baseline values. The impact on renal function was assessed by comparing serum creatinine levels at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months post-switch with baseline values as well as the number of serum creatinine increases of 30% or greater above baseline. The changes in serum ferritin and creatinine were subsequently analysed by paired t-test. The Proportion of Days Covered (PDC) was calculated as a measure of patient adherence to ICT in the 12 months before and after switching formulations. Results 74 patients switched from deferasirox DT to FCT with the following diagnoses: beta-thalassemia (n = 45), sickle-cell disease (9), thalassemia-intermedia (6), HbE-thalassemia (5), other transfusion-dependent disorders (9). The median age was 36 (range: 1-78yo), mean baseline serum ferritin was 2767µg/L (range: 412-8742), mean baseline creatinine was 64.5 umol/L (range: 17-140) and the median prescribed daily dose of DT was 1250mg (range: 62.5 - 3500). The mean PDC in the 12 months prior to switching formulations was 0.80 (range: 0.31-1.00). This increased to 0.91 (range: 0.21-1.00) in the 12 months following the switch to FCT. The median prescribed daily dose of FCT was 900mg (range: 90 - 2520) The mean changes in ferritin and creatinine at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months post-switch are shown in the table. 6 out of 74 patients (8%) had a creatinine increase of >30% from baseline whilst receiving the FCT, occurring after an average of 120 days (range: 30-260). All 6 patients were managed by dose adjustment of FCT and creatinine returned to the normal range in 5 out of 6 cases. Conclusions The switch from deferasirox DT to FCT resulted in improved patient adherence to chelation, a reduction in mean serum ferritin and a modest rise in mean serum creatinine. Some patients showed a reversible rise in creatinine from baseline. The median daily dose of FCT prescribed was 72% of the DT formulation, approximately equivalent according to the known bioavailability of the different preparations and suggesting that improvements in serum ferritin were due to the more consistent daily administration of the FCT rather than an increased daily deferasirox dose. We suggest that when the fall in ferritin is abrupt and/or to levels <1000µg/L, serum creatinine should be followed particularly carefully to avoid over-exposure to deferasirox from the FCT. We further speculate that patients who may have over-reported adherence to the DT prior to switching may be most susceptible to this effect. Reference Taher, A. T., et al. (2017). "New film-coated tablet formulation of deferasirox is well tolerated in patients with thalassemia or lower-risk MDS: Results of the randomized, phase II ECLIPSE study." American journal of hematology 92(5): 420-428. Table Table. Disclosures Garbowski: Vifor: Consultancy. Porter:Novartis: Consultancy; Cerus: Honoraria; Agios: Honoraria.

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Iron Overload in a Patient with Non-Transfusion-Dependent Hemoglobin H Disease and Borderline Serum Ferritin: Can We Rely on Serum Ferritin for Monitoring in This Group of Patients?

Case Reports in Oncology ◽

10.1159/000507653 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 668-673

Author(s):

Mohammad Ali ◽

Mohamed A. Yassin ◽

Maya Aldeeb

Keyword(s):

Iron Overload ◽

Serum Ferritin ◽

Ferritin Level ◽

The Body ◽

Gastrointestinal Absorption ◽

Specific Method ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Endocrine Organs ◽

Secondary Iron Overload ◽

Hemoglobin H Disease

Secondary iron overload is a common complication in the context of hematological diseases, as iron accumulates due to different mechanisms including chronic transfusion, increased gastrointestinal absorption, chronic hemolysis and underlying genetic defects leading to an increase in gastrointestinal absorption of iron. Since the body does not have a mechanism to excrete excess iron, it gets deposited in the heart, endocrine organs, and the liver with the latest being affected less commonly than in primary iron overload disorders like hemochromatosis. Patients with hemoglobin H disease, which is a type of α-thalassemia, are usually transfusion independent, except in occasions where an external stressful factor leads to a drop in hemoglobin and necessitates blood transfusion. Despite this, secondary iron overload is commonly encountered in these patients due to increased gastrointestinal absorption of iron. To avoid the complications associated with iron overload, these patients are usually monitored with serum ferritin, which is an inexpensive widely available method to monitor iron overload. MRI of the liver (Ferriscan) is a more sensitive and specific method to monitor these patients and avoid the long-lasting and sometimes irreversible effect of secondary iron overload. Here we present an interesting case of a patient with hemoglobin H disease, who was monitored with serum ferritin. She had a serum ferritin level considered as a borderline risk for morbidities secondary to iron overload, and an MRI of her liver (Ferriscan) showed significant iron deposition in the liver associated with increased risk of complications secondary to iron overload.

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Study of transcranial Doppler ultrasound and endothelin-1 in children with sickle cell anemia: a single-center study

Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Immunopathology ◽

10.24287/1726-1708-2021-20-3-31-35 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 31-35

Author(s):

S. Ragab ◽

E. Badr ◽

H. El-Kholy ◽

M. El-Hawy

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Patient Group ◽

Sickle Cell ◽

Serum Ferritin ◽

Sickle Cell Anemia ◽

Transcranial Doppler ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Endothelin 1 ◽

The Impact

To assess the impact of our transcranial Doppler (TCD) screening program on the incidence of a first stroke in children with sickle cell anemia and to study the role of elevated serum endothelin-1 (an inflammatory mediator) in these children. Background: stroke is a major complication of sickle cell disease (SCD), even in very young children. About 11% of children with homozygous sickle cell anemia (SS) develop stroke by the end of the second decade of life. The underlying etiology in most cases is an ischemic stroke caused by large-vessel stenosis or occlusion. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) recommended as a routine screening test to identify children at high risk of developing a stroke, measures flow velocities within large intracranial arteries. TCD should be routinely performed in children between 2 and 16 years as this age group is at the highest risk of sickle cerebral vasculopathy. We carried out a prospective case-control study which included 2 groups: a patient group consisted of 30 children with sickle cell anemia and sickle thalassemia and a group of 30 healthy children of matched age and sex. Each group included 11 males (36.5%) and 19 females (63.5%); the age range was 2 to 17 years. Both groups underwent a thorough clinical examination and laboratory tests (CBC, liver and renal function, serum ferritin and endothelin-1). Additionally, TCD was performed in all children included in the patient group. According to the results of TCD, time-averaged mean of the maximum velocity (TAMMX) was < 170 cm/s (normal), 170–200 cm/s (conditional), ≥ 200 cm/s (high risk) in 20 (66.7%), 4 (13.3%) 6 (20%) patients, respectively. The level of endothelin-1 was significantly higher in the patients (57.1 ± 91.3) than in the controls (21.9 ± 14.8). Hemoglobin concentration was significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group, but the levels of reticulocytes, WBCs and serum ferritin were significantly higher in the patients than in the healthy controls. Serum Endotheline-1 level was higher in patients with sickle cell anemia than control group.

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A Randomized, Controlled Phase II Trial in Sickle Cell Disease Patients with Chronic Iron Overload Demonstrates That the Once-Daily Oral Iron Chelator Deferasirox (Exjade®, ICL670) Is Well Tolerated and Reduces Iron Burden.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v106.11.313.313 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 106 (11) ◽

pp. 313-313 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

E. Vichinsky ◽

R. Fischer ◽

E. Fung ◽

O. Onyekwere ◽

J. Porter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sickle Cell Disease ◽

Iron Overload ◽

Sickle Cell ◽

Serum Ferritin ◽

Iron Chelator ◽

Iron Intake ◽

Cell Disease ◽

Once Daily ◽

To Receive ◽

Iron Excretion

Abstract Repeated blood transfusion to prevent complications places patients with sickle cell disease at risk for morbidity from chronic iron overload. Parenteral chelation with deferoxamine (DFO) is effective at reducing iron overload but patient compliance is generally poor. Deferasirox (DSX) is an investigational iron chelator given orally once-daily. Demonstration of the safety and tolerability of DSX over a 1-year period was the primary objective and efficacy was a secondary objective of the study. Adult and pediatric patients (n=195; n=98 aged <16) were randomized 2:1 to receive treatment with DSX (n=132) or DFO (n=63). Dosing of DSX from 5 to 30 mg/kg/day and DFO from 20 to 60 mg/kg/day was based upon baseline liver iron concentration (LIC) as determined by liver susceptometry using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). Initial DSX doses <20 mg/kg were increased midway through the trial based upon emerging data from other DSX trials. Safety assessments included hematology, chemistry, eye exams, hearing tests and ECGs. Efficacy was measured by LIC, change in serum ferritin, and iron balance. Discontinuations were similar in the DSX and DFO groups (11.4 vs 11.1%). The mean ± SD doses of DSX and DFO given were 17.3 ± 6.0 and 36.0 ± 11.4 mg/kg, and transfusional iron intake was 0.21 ± 0.13 and 0.23 ± 0.12 mg/kg/day, respectively. The most common adverse events associated with DSX were generally mild and consisted of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and skin rash. Mild non-progressive increases in serum creatinine greater than 33% of baseline and above the upper limit of normal were observed in three patients receiving DSX. One patient on DSX developed an elevated ALT most likely related to drug administration that resolved with its discontinuation. Median mg/kg/day Parameter n Mean ± SD n Mean ± SD DSX DFO DSX DFO LIC change (mg Fe/g dw) 113 −1.3 ± 3.1 54 −0.7 ± 2.6 16.7 32.7 Ferritin change (μg/L) 83 −183 ± 1651 33 −558 ± 951 Ratio iron excretion/intake 105 1.14 ± 0.60 52 1.20 ± 0.78 With both DSX and DFO there was a statistically significant reduction in LIC from baseline (P<0.0001 for DSX, P=0.022 for DFO). Efficacy of DSX and DFO was similar after 1 year of therapy. A dose-effect relationship was observed: patients assigned to receive DSX 30 mg/kg and DFO ≥ 50 mg/kg had an absolute change in serum ferritin of −1196 ± 2674 (n=10) and −936 ± 1115 μ g/L (n=7), respectively. Although serum ferritin varied during the trial with both treatments, the reduction at end of study was consistent with the effect on LIC. The ratio of iron excretion to iron intake of >1 also indicates that DSX was able to induce negative body iron balance. Once-daily oral DSX is well tolerated and appears to have similar efficacy to DFO in reducing iron burden in transfused patients with sickle cell disease.

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