Successful case of deferasirox slow desensitization in adults

When deferasirox is used in iron chelation therapy, maculopapular rash occurs in 10% of patients, but there is no accepted and implemented protocol for the management of these drug reactions in adults.

A 23-year-old woman diagnosed with thalassemia major is presented. She had taken 1,500 mg oral deferasirox for 1 week. Five hours after the last dose, a pruritic maculopapular rash developed on the body, face, and hands. The rash spread to the whole body within 3 days. The absolute necessity for the patient to take the drug was clarified by the hematology department. The patient's history was evaluated. A delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction due to deferasirox was considered.

The slow desensitization protocol described in the literature and applied on a case-by-case basis in pediatric patients was modified to shorten the duration by determining appropriate doses for the current preparation. The desensitization process was started with 1/100,000 of the total dose and the therapeutic dose was reached with a 2- to 2.5-fold increase in dose. No pre-medication was applied. During the procedure, at a low dose of 0.1 mg, local flushing and erythema was observed around the auricle on the face. The reaction did not progress.

Slow desensitization protocol for oral deferasirox was successfully applied in an adult patient.