Source: adapted from Daar S, et al., Haematologica (2006);91: Abstract 31.
The response to deferasirox is dependent on both dose and the rate of transfusional iron intake.9 In patients with low transfusional requirements (<2 units of blood/month), deferasirox 10mg/kg/day is able to maintain iron balance, while in patients with intermediate requirements (2–4 units of blood/month), deferasirox 20mg/kg/day maintains or reduces iron balance in most patients, irrespective of transfusional iron intake. This shows that deferasirox dosing is flexible and can be individually tailored to meet a patient’s need.
Safety First
In the studies mentioned here, deferasirox was generally well tolerated across a wide range of ages and transfusion-dependent anemias. Deferasirox is, however, contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to deferasirox or to any of its other components.The most common adverse events (AEs) following deferasirox therapy were mild to moderate, transient, dose-related gastrointestinal disturbances (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain), increases in serum creatinine, and skin rash. These typically resolved spontaneously without discontinuation of treatment. Some AEs required treatment to be temporarily disrupted, although most patients were rechallenged after the event resolved. In the pivotal multicenter, randomized, active-controlled phase III clinical trial, Study 107, serious AEs were reported in 9.1% of patients in the deferasirox arm and 8.6% of patients in the DFO arm. In cases of skin rashes of mild to moderate severity, deferasirox may be continued without dose adjustment, since the rash often resolves spontaneously. For more severe rashes where interruption of treatment may be necessary, deferasirox may be reintroduced at a lower dose and gradually escalated after resolution of the rash; additionally, a short period of oral steroid administration may be considered.
Non-progressive increases in serum creatinine were noted within the first four weeks of treatment in 38% of deferasirox-treated patients in clinical trials, compared with 15% of DFO-treated patients. These increases were dose-related and within the normal range in 94% of patients. There were no cases of moderate to severe renal insufficiency or renal failure, and no patients permanently discontinued therapy due to creatinine rises. Most of these non-progrssive creatinine increased resolved spontaneously, while the rest were generally reversible with dose reduction or interuption. Dose adjustments should be made where necessary to manage serum creatinine, which should be assessed before initiating therapy and monitored monthly thereafter to determine whether dose modification or discontinuation is necessary.
In the 107 study, intermittent proteinuria (urine protein/creatinine ratio >0.6mg/mg) occurred in 18.6% of deferasirox-treated patients, compared with 7.2% of DFO-treated patients; close monitoring of proteinuria is, therefore, recommended. A total of 5.7% of study patients treated with deferasirox developed elevations in liver enzyme (SGPT/ALT) levels more than five times the upper limit of normal at two consecutive visits, compared with 1.7% of patients treated with DFO. As a precaution, therefore, it is recommended that liver function also be monitored monthly, and if there is an unexplained, persistent or progressive increase in serum transaminase levels, treatment with deferasirox should be interrupted or discontinued.
Auditory (high-frequency hearing loss and decreased hearing) and ocular (lens opacities, cataracts, elevations in intraocular pressure and retinal disorders) disturbances were reported in <1% of patients who received deferasirox; auditory and ophthalmic testing (including slit lamp examinations and dilated fundoscopy) are nonetheless recommended before the initiation of deferasirox therapy, then every 12 months.
If disturbances are noted, dose reduction or interruption should be considered.Summary
Patients with untreated transfusional iron overload are likely to suffer significant morbidity and mortality. Registered by the FDA in the US in November 2005, deferasirox is the only iron chelating agent that offers 24-hour protection against iron overload and related consequences with once-daily oral dosing. A comprehensive program of clinical trials has demonstrated the efficacy of deferasirox in adult and pediatric patients across a range of transfusiondependent anemias, and has shown that deferasirox is generally well tolerated. These trials also showed that oral deferasirox is preferred over the demanding regimen of DFO infusions, and may lead to better patient compliance, resulting in an improved prognosis for a wide range of patient groups.
