Effects of combined deferiprone with deferoxamine on right ventricular function in thalassaemia major.

Background: Combination therapy with deferoxamine and oral deferiprone is superior to deferoxamine alone in removing cardiac iron and improving left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The right ventricle (RV) is also affected by the toxic effects of iron and may cause additional cardiovascular perturbation. We assessed the effects of combination therapy on the RV in thalassaemia major (TM) using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).

Relation of myocardial T2* to right ventricular function in thalassaemia major.

Aims: Myocardial T2* cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) provides a rapid and reproducible measure of cardiac iron loading and is being increasingly used worldwide for monitoring of transfusion-dependent thalassaemia patients. Although myocardial siderosis (T2* <20 ms) is associated with impaired left ventricular (LV) function, little is known of its relation with right ventricular (RV) function. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cardiac T2* and RV function.

Randomized controlled trial of deferiprone or deferoxamine in beta-thalassemia major patients with asymptomatic myocardial siderosis.

Most deaths in beta-thalassemia major result from cardiac complications due to iron overload. Differential effects on myocardial siderosis may exist between different chelators. A randomized controlled trial was performed in 61 patients previously maintained on subcutaneous deferoxamine.