The Effect of Combination Iron Chelating Agents on Reducing the Severity Grading of Heart and Liver Iron Overload in β-Thalassemia Patients

Background: Deferasirox (DFX), Deferoxamine (DFO), and Deferiprone (DFP) are iron chelators that can be used in thalassemic patients with iron overload. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was performed on 108 thalassemic patients who were randomly divided into group A (n=54) and B (n=54). Group A received combination of DFX and DFP, and group B received DFO and DFP for six months. Serum ferritin level was measured at the beginning of the study, 3, and 6 months after the treatment; The heart and liver iron deposition rates were also measured at the beginning of the study, and 6 months after the treatment in both groups and compared using Magnetic Resonance Imaging T2 plus (MRI T2*). Results: The mean age of patients in group A and B was 17.29 +/- 4.3 and 17.89 +/- 5.61 years old, respectively. Serum ferritin level significantly reduced after the treatment (Serum ferritin level at baseline, 3, and 6 months after the treatment in Group A: 2476.25 +/- 1289.32, 2089.62 +/- 1051.64 and 1290.22 +/- 724.78 ng/ml, respectively; in Group B: 2044.63 +/- 989.82, 1341.30 +/- 887.62 and 1229.41 +/- 701.22 ng/ml, respectively) (p<0.01, for both groups). MRI T2* heart and liver was also improved at the end of the study in both groups (p<0.01, for both groups). However, the combination of DFO/DFP significantly decreased severity grades of liver iron deposition in comparison to DFX/DFP regimen after six months (p<0.01). Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that both combination therapies of DFO/DFP and DFX/DFP could improve heart and liver MRI T2*. However, DFO/DFP combination therapy was more effective in reducing the severity grades of liver iron deposition.