Efficacy and adverse effects of oral iron chelator deferiprone (l1, 1,2- dimethyl-3-hydroxypyrid-4-one) in patients with beta thalassaemia major in Pakistan.

Mean serum ferritin level estimated at the start of trial was 7129 microg/l. This shows that Pakistani thalassaemic patients are quite iron overloaded due to socioeconomic reasons that are peculiar to our setup. In this study DFP was well tolerated and caused fewer side effects. It had much better patient compliance and was effective in lowering serum ferritin level in previously most poorly chelated patients.