Effects of combined deferiprone and desferrioxamine iron chelating therapy in beta-thalassemia major end-stage heart failure: a case report

Eur J Heart Fail. 2007 Mar;9(3):320-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ejheart.2006.08.006. Epub 2006 Oct 5.

Abstract

Despite usual iron chelating therapy based on desferrioxamine, patients affected by beta-thalassemia major (beta-TM) often develop progressive heart failure caused by myocardial iron overload, which is the leading cause of mortality within the third decade of life. Heart transplantation is a limited therapeutic option, as very often these patients have multi-organ iron deposits and infective complications (particularly hepatitis C), secondary to frequent blood transfusions. We report the case of a 26-year-old male affected by beta-TM with end-stage heart failure, who showed a dramatic improvement in symptoms and myocardial function when a new oral iron chelating agent, deferiprone, was added to standard therapy with desferrioxamine.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / drug therapy*
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / etiology
  • Deferiprone
  • Deferoxamine / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Ferritins / blood
  • Humans
  • Iron Chelating Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Pyridones / therapeutic use*
  • Recovery of Function
  • beta-Thalassemia / complications
  • beta-Thalassemia / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Iron Chelating Agents
  • Pyridones
  • Deferiprone
  • Ferritins
  • Deferoxamine