Oral deferiprone appears to be more effective than subcutaneous desferrioxamine for removing iron from the myocardium in patients with beta-thalassaemia.
Researchers measured myocardial iron concentrations using a new magnetic-resonance T2* technique, which shows values inversely related to tissue iron concentration.
The study was carried out by Dr. Dudley Pennell and colleagues at the Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Unit, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, England.
Heart failure caused by iron overload develops either as a result of excess dietary absorption (hereditary haemochromatosis) or from repeated blood transfusions, the clinicians point out. Cardiac iron overload is seen in thalassaemia major (beta-thalassaemia), and heart failure remains the major cause of death in 60 percent of patients.
Corresponding deaths from infection is seen in some 13 percent and liver disease 6 percent of patients.
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