Abstract
Deferasirox (DFX) is an oral iron chelator with established efficacy and safety. We evaluated by T2* cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) the efficacy of DFX in preventing and removing cardiac and liver iron load and cardiac volume changes, along 5years in adult thalassemia major (TM) patients. Twenty-three TM patients (9 males/14 women, mean age 36 ± 4years) were included in this study. Repeated CMR was performed to assess myocardial and liver iron load(baseline t0, after 2.5 years t1, after 5 years t2). Myocardial T2* values changed progressively and increased significantly between t0 and t2 (t0: 27.15 ± 9.58 vs t2: 36.64 ± 6.68, p = 0.0001). At baseline evaluation, a cardiac T2* value <20ms was detected in six patients (26%): they showed an improvement of cardiac T2* values between t0 and t1, with normal T2* levels reached in all patients at t2. In the overall population, a significant reduction of both end-diastolic and end-systolic left ventricular volumes (EDV, ESV) were detected between t0 and t2 (EDV, t0: 132 ± 31ml vs t2: 124 ± 22ml, p = 0.033; ESV, t0: 48 ± 14ml vs t2: 41 ± 10ml, p = 0.0007). A significant reduction in liver iron concentration (LIC) was detected at t1 (5.36 ± 3.58mg/g dw at baseline vs 3.35 ± 2.68mg/g dw at t1, p = 0.004). In patients with cardiac iron overload at baseline (n.6), mean cardiac T2* values doubled at t2, and mean LIC value is reduced of 29%. After 5years of treatment, DFX continually and significantly reduced myocardial and liver iron overload, and it prevented further iron deposition.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.