Combination Therapies in Iron Chelation

The availability of oral iron chelators and new non-invasive methods for early detection and treatment of iron overload, have significantly improved the life expectancy and quality of life of patients with β thalassemia major. However, monotherapy is not effective in all patients for a variety of reasons. We analyzed the most relevant reports recently published on alternating or combined chelation therapies in thalassemia major with special attention to safety aspects and to their effects in terms of reduction of iron overload in different organs, improvement of complications, and survival. When adverse effects, such as gastrointestinal upset with deferasirox or infusional site reactions with deferoxamine are not tolerable and organ iron is in an acceptable range, alternating use of two chelators (drugs taken sequentially on different days, but not taken on the same day together) may be a winning choice. The association deferiprone and deferoxamine should be the first choice in case of heart failure and when dangerously high levels of cardiac iron exist. Further research regarding the safety and efficacy of the most appealing combination treatment, deferiprone and deferasirox, is needed before recommendations for routine clinical practice can be made.