Deferiprone

Deferiprone (tradenames include Ferriprox) is an oral drug that chelates iron and is used to treat thalassaemia major.^[1]

Additional recommended knowledge

What is the Sensitivity of my Balance?

Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

Recognize and detect the effects of electrostatic charges on your balance

It is currently licenced for use in the Europe and Asia, but not in Canada and the United States.^[1]

Controversy

Deferiprone was at the centre of a protracted struggle between Nancy Olivieri, a Canadian haematologist and researcher, and the Hospital for Sick Children and pharmaceutical giant Apotex, that started in 1996.^[2] Dr. Olivieri's data suggested that deferiprone lead to progressive hepatic fibrosis, a finding which is in dispute.^[3][4]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Savulescu J (2004). "Thalassaemia major: the murky story of deferiprone". BMJ 328 (7436): 358-9. PMID 14962851. Full Text.
2. ^ Viens A, Savulescu J (2004). "Introduction to The Olivieri symposium.". J Med Ethics 30 (1): 1-7. PMID 14872065. Free Full Text.
3. ^ Brittenham G, Nathan D, Olivieri N, Porter J, Pippard M, Vichinsky E, Weatherall D (2003). "Deferiprone and hepatic fibrosis". Blood 101 (12): 5089-90; author reply 5090-1. PMID 12788794. Full Text.
4. ^ Wanless I, Sweeney G, Dhillon A, Guido M, Piga A, Galanello R, Gamberini M, Schwartz E, Cohen A (2002). "Lack of progressive hepatic fibrosis during long-term therapy with deferiprone in subjects with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia". Blood 100 (5): 1566-9. PMID 12176871. Full Text.

See also

• Deferoxamine
• Deferasirox