Early iron reduction programme for thalassaemia patients after bone marrow transplantation

Thirty thalassaemia patients received iron reduction starting at around 3 months post transplant. Sixteen received desferrioxamine and nine had phlebotomy, five patients had desferrioxamine followed by phlebotomy. The desferrioxamine group had higher serum ferritin levels at the start of iron reduction as compared to the phlebotomy group (5292 vs 2453 microg/l, P EQ 0.001). After 444 and 407 days of iron reduction, serum ferritins at cessation of iron reduction in both groups was similar (665 vs 588 microg/l). The rate of decline of serum ferritin in both groups was similar. There was no graft rejection during the programme. Early institution of iron reduction in ex-thalassaemia is safe.