CompletedPhase 4

Intensive Combined Chelation Therapy for Iron-Induced Cardiac Disease in Patients With Thalassemia Major

ItalyStarted 2001-12

Plain-language summary

Myocardial iron overload is the leading cause of death in patients with beta-thalassemia major (TM). Therapy with deferoxamine (DFO) combined with deferiprone (DFP) reduces myocardial iron and improves cardiac function. However, the prognosis for TM patients with established cardiac disease switched from DFO monotherapy to combined DFP/DFO chelation is unknown. Twenty-eight TM patients with cardiac disease were enrolled in a prospective study lasting 42±6 months. Fifteen (9 high-ferritin and 6 low-ferritin) were placed on DFP/DFO (DFP, 75 mg/kg t.i.d.; DFO, 40-50 mg/kg over 8-12 h at night 5-7 d/wk), while 13 (5 high- and 8 low-ferritin) received DFO alone. No cardiac events were observed among high-ferritin patients on combination therapy, whereas 4 cardiac events (p=0.0049), including three deaths, occurred in high-ferritin patients on DFO monotherapy. These findings demonstrate that in TM patients with well-established cardiac disease combined iron-chelation therapy with DFP/DFO is superior to DFO monotherapy.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: Cardiomyopathy secondary to iron overload Exclusion Criteria: Heart failure

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Our primary objective: to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular deaths and hospitalisations for cardiovascular disease in the 2 treatment groups

Timeframe: 42 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT00800761

SponsorOspedale Microcitemico

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2006-06

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Iron Overload trials

Plain-language summary