Blood Transfusion Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Blood Transfusion, including details on blood donation, blood types, leukemia.

Retrospective nationwide survey of Japanese patients with transfusion-dependent MDS and aplastic anemia highlights the negative impact of iron overload on morbidity/mortality.

Takatoku M, Uchiyama T, Okamoto S, Kanakura Y, Sawada K, Tomonaga M, Nakao S, Nakahata T, Harada M, Murate T, Ozawa K,

Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan. mtakatok@jichi.ac.jp

OBJECTIVE: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and aplastic anemia (AA) are the most common anemias that require transfusion therapy in Japan. This retrospective survey investigated relationships between iron overload, chelation practices, and morbidity/mortality in patients with these diseases. METHOD: Medical histories of transfusion-dependent patients were assessed at transfusion onset, chelation onset, and study end. RESULTS: Data were collected from 292 patients with MDS, AA, pure red cell aplasia, myelofibrosis, and other conditions. Patients received a mean of 61.5 red blood cell units during the previous year. Fewer than half (43%) of patients had previously received deferoxamine (DFO) therapy. Only 8.6% received daily/continuous DFO. In all, 75 deaths were reported, with cardiac and liver failure noted in 24.0 and 6.7% of cases. Of these, 97% had ferritin levels >1000 ng/mL. Abnormal cardiac and liver function was observed in 21.9% (14/64) and 84.6% (11/13) of all patients assessed. Effective chelation with DFO resulted in improved serum ferritin, liver enzymes, and fasting blood sugar. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality is higher in heavily iron-overloaded patients, with liver and cardiac dysfunction being the primary cause. Daily/continuous chelation therapy was effective at reducing iron burden and improving organ function. Chelation therapy should be initiated once serum ferritin levels exceed 1000 ng/mL.

Published 18 May 2007 in Eur J Haematol, 78(6): 487-94.
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