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Deferoxamine for the Treatment of Hemochromatosis
This study has been completed.
Sponsored by: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Information provided by: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00001203
  Purpose

When patients receive repeated blood transfusions the level of iron in the patient's blood can rise. When iron is processed in the body a protein known as hemosiderin can begin collecting in the organs. If too much hemosiderin collects in the organs they can begin to malfunction. This condition is called transfusional hemochromatosis.

An organ of particular importance in transfusional hemochromatosis is the heart. Patients born with diseases requiring blood transfusions at birth begin to develop heart problems in their teens. These patients typically only live for 17 years. Adults that require transfusions can begin experiencing heart problems after 100-200 units of backed red blood cells.

Deferoxamine (Desferal) is a drug that binds to iron and allows it to be excreted from the body. It is the only effective way to remove iron from patients who have been overloaded with iron because of multiple transfusions. Previous studies have lead researchers to believe that deferoxamine, when given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous), can be delay or prevent heart complications.

Researchers plan to continue studying patients receiving deferoxamine as treatment for the prevention of heart complications associated with repeated blood transfusions. In this study researchers will attempt;

  1. To determine if deferoxamine, given regularly, can indefinitely prevent the heart, liver, and endocrine complications associated with transfusional hemochromatosis
  2. To determine whether heart disease caused by transfusional hemochromatosis can be reversed by intensive treatment with deferoxamine.

Condition
Diabetes Mellitus
Heart Disease
Hemochromatosis
Thalassemia

Genetics Home Reference related topics: beta thalassemia hemochromatosis
MedlinePlus related topics: Anemia Blood Transfusion and Donation Diabetes Heart Diseases Hemochromatosis Thalassemia
Drug Information available for: Deferoxamine Deferoxamine mesylate
U.S. FDA Resources
Study Type: Observational
Official Title: Clinical Course of Patients With Transfusional Hemochromatosis on Deferoxamine

Further study details as provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):

Estimated Enrollment: 165
Study Start Date: April 1985
Detailed Description:

The purposes of this protocol are two-fold: 1) to determine whether deferoxamine, given subcutaneously on a regular basis, can indefinitely prevent the cardiac, endocrine and hepatic complications of transfusional hemochromatosis; and 2) to determine whether cardiac disease can be reversed by intensive intravenous treatment in patients who already have objective evidence of cardiac dysfunction. The clinical manifestations and course of patients who require regular blood transfusions is well established. Those with congenital anemias who require transfusions from birth develop cardiac disease in their teens and their mean of survival is only 17 years. Adults with acquired anemias begin to exhibit cardiac manifestations of iron deposition after 100-200 units of packed red cells. Deferoxamine, when given by the subcutaneous route, has been shown to reduce substantially the total iron burden in thalassemic patients. Our results indicate that cardiac complications are delayed or prevented. We plan to continue to follow our cohort of patients on optimal medical management to determine if chelation alters disease outcome. Patients with heavy iron burdens who already manifest cardiac disease will be chelated intensely to determine whether reducing the iron burden is associated with reversal of cardiac complications.

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   4 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria
  • INCLUSION CRITERIA

Patients studied under this protocol will be at risk for or have evidence of significant excess tissue iron.

Most patients will be on regular blood transfusion secondary to either congenital or acquired anemia.

The majority of patients have homozygous beta thalassemia.

Patients with sickle cell anemia will be included only when there is an absolute indication for regular blood transfusions (e.g., a history of stroke).

Twenty to thirty adults with acquired anemia and good long-term prognosis will be accepted for study if chelation can be initiated early in their transfusion history (less than 30-50 units).

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Such patients will be excluded from study if they have diabetes or cardiac disease due to another cause (coronary artery or valvular heart disease).

  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00001203

Locations
United States, Maryland
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
Sponsors and Collaborators
  More Information

NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web Page  This link exits the ClinicalTrials.gov site

Publications:
Study ID Numbers: 850087, 85-H-0087
Study First Received: November 3, 1999
Last Updated: January 7, 2009
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00001203  
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government

Keywords provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):
Desferal
Thalassemia
Liver Iron Concentration
Endocrine Evaluation
Diabetes Mellitus
Cardiac Disease
Acquired Anemia

Study placed in the following topic categories:
Heart Diseases
Metabolic Diseases
Hematologic Diseases
Anemia
Diabetes Mellitus
Hemochromatosis, type 3
Endocrine System Diseases
Anemia, Hemolytic
Iron Metabolism Disorders
Thalassemia
Anemia, Hemolytic, Congenital
Metabolism, Inborn Errors
Genetic Diseases, Inborn
Hemoglobinopathies
Hemochromatosis
Endocrinopathy
Iron Overload
Hemoglobinopathy
Metabolic disorder
Glucose Metabolism Disorders
Iron
Deferoxamine

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Iron Chelating Agents
Cardiovascular Diseases
Chelating Agents
Metal Metabolism, Inborn Errors
Pharmacologic Actions
Siderophores

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on January 15, 2009