Renal function in patients with thalassemia major receiving Exjade® dispersible tablets and a new film-coated tablet formulation of deferasirox (Nanojade®)

Abstract

In patients with β-thalassemia major (TM), one of the long-term complications of regular blood transfusion is renal dysfunction. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the renal function in TM patients receiving Exjade® dispersible tablets and a new film-coated tablet formulation of deferasirox (Nanojade®). In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a total of 80 TM patients aged 11-48-year-old entered the study. Patients received 20-30 mg/kg/d (single dose) Exjade® (Exjade group, n = 40) and Nanojade® (Nanojade group, n = 40) orally. To evaluated renal function, serum creatinine (SCr), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), 24-h urine protein (UPro), UCa/UCr, spot UPro/UCr ratio, and serum ferritin were calculated at baseline and every 3 months to 9 months. There was no significant difference in SCr, BUN, eGFR, 24-h UPro, UPro/UCr ratio, UCa/UCr ratio, and serum ferritin between groups at baseline and end of study (P baseline> 0.05, P end of study> 0.05). There was no significant difference in proteinuria between groups at baseline and end of study (P baseline> 0.05, P end of study> 0.05). The proportion of SCr, BUN, eGFR, 24-h UPro, UPro/UCr ratio, and UCa/UCr ratio was not significantly different in TM patients treated with Nanojade® compared to patients' received Exjade®. Nanojade® had similar effects to Exjade®, and therefore, the use of Nanojade® is safe in TM patients and does not seem to be associated with increased renal failure, proteinuria, and hypercalciuria.