Incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in a thalassemia unit.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), following liver cirrhosis as a complication of chronic hepatitis B or C viruses (HBV or HCV)and iron overload, has been reported in thalassemia patients. This study assessed HCC incidences, the role of iron and possible antitumor activity of chelators in 57 thalassemia major (TM) and nine thalassemia intermedia (TI) patients using deferoxamine (DFO) therapy. Antibodies against HCV were detected in 23/57 (40.

Effect of combined chelation therapy with deferiprone and deferoxamine on left ventricular diastolic function in adult beta-thalassemia major patients.

Beta-thalassemia major (beta-TM), patients, asymptomatic and with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were studied echocardiographically. Group A (26 patients), on deferiprone (L1) and deferoxamine (DFO) combination therapy (L1: 80 +/- 27 mg/kg/day, DFO: 160 +/- 87 mg/kg/week) and group B (35 patients) on DFO monotherapy (240 +/- 40 mg/kg/week) for the last 2 years were compared. Another group, C (14 patients), switched to L1 (74 +/- 15 mg/kg/day) plus DFO (158 +/- 48 mg/kg/week) for 20-30 months, was prospectively studied for 2 years.