[German multicenter thalassemia study. Concept and initial results].

At present more than 300 children and adolescents with Thalassaemia major are living in the FRG. The purpose of this project is--for the first time--to apply a standardized therapy protocol to these patients, to prove its effectivity and study side-effects. The multi-center study started in April 1991. The therapy is based on periodical transfusion of erythrocytes in order to keep haemoglobin (Hb) concentration (= basic Hb-value) above 10.5 g/dl, and daily application of Desferal, 40 mg/kg bw s.c. for iron elimination. Until Nov. 30, 1991 74 patients from 31 different childrens hospitals entered the study. Preliminary results after evaluation of the basic questionnaires can be summarized as follows: 1. The majority of patients if not too old to highly profit from improvement of therapy; 2. In 40.9% of these patients HbF concentration was higher than 15%, which indicates a suboptimal transfusion therapy; 3. At least 30% of patients need intensified iron elimination. Even these preliminary data demonstrate the necessity to improve the therapy of Thalassaemia major in Germany. The goal is to include all affected patients in the study and so optimize long term results concerning quality of life and prognosis.