Iron chelation therapy with deferoxamine (DFO),the current standard for the treatment of iron overload in patients with betathalassemia,requires regular subcutaneous or intravenous infusions. This can lead to reduced quality of life and poor adherence,resulting in increased morbidity and mortality in iron-overloaded patients with beta-thalassemia. Deferasirox (DFX) is an orally administered iron chelator that has been approved for use in many countries. The requirement of an effective,well tolerated iron chelator with a less demanding mode of administration has led to the development of deferasirox. The present study was aimed to compare the satisfaction and compliance with deferoxamine versus deferasirox (Exjade®),a novel oral iron chelator in patients with transfusion - dependent beta- thalassemia. A cross-sectional,single-center investigation study was carried out in the Thalassemia Center of Ibn-Atheer Teaching Hospital in Nineveh province,Iraq. One hundred and eight thalassemic patients aged between 2- 20 years old having received multiple blood transfusions and a serum ferritin greater than 1500 ng/ml. Patients were randomised into two groups. Group 1 received deferoxamine at a dose of 20-50mg/kg/day and group 2 received deferasirox at the dose of 10-30 mg/kg/day. Another 56 apparently healthy volunteers were used as a control group. The assessment of chelation was done during the period between November 2013 and February 2014 by measurement of serum ferritin. Satisfaction and compliance was assessed by using a special questionnaire prepared by the researcher. Out of the 108 thalassemic patients enrolled there was no discontinuation in treatment with the two drugs under study. The serum ferritin did not change significantly in any of the chelation groups. In comparison with the patients who were treated with DFO,those receiving DFX reported a significantly higher rate of compliance and satisfaction (P < 0.05). However,no significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding their satisfaction (P > 0.05).Compliance with deferasirox (50 %) was more than that with deferoxamine (20 %). Satisfaction with deferoxamine was significantly lower than deferasirox (p= 0.00).
