Research Information System
Cyprus Journal of Medical Sciences, vol.7, no.6, pp.801-805, 2023 (ESCI)
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nephrotoxicity may develop in thalassemia major (TM) because of the disease and deferasirox (DFX) treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of deferasirox dose and treatment duration on the frequency of proteinuria and renal functions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with TM who were undergoing regular transfusion and were using DFX as an iron chelator were included in this study. According to the international follow-up protocols, screening tests (urea, creatinine, electrolytes, ferritin, complete urine analysis, and spot urine protein-creatinine ratio) which are examined every 3 months, were recorded once for each patient (March 2018-June 2018). RESULTS: Sixty-six patients were included in this study (35 boys and 31 girls). Their mean age was 9.89±4.67 years and the mean age of starting transfusion was 7.86±7.89 months. The mean duration of treatment with DFX was 7.12±3.94 years. A significant difference was found in the incidence of proteinuria when the DFX dose was higher than 40 mg/kg/day. When DFX treatment duration was evaluated, creatinine values were significantly lower in those patients with a treatment durations longer than 5 years (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Instead of increasing the dose of DFX, switching to combined therapy may be more effective and safer in terms of side effects.