IMMUNE FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH BETA-THALASSEMIA RECEIVING THE ORALLY-ACTIVE IRON-CHELATING AGENT DEFERIPRONE

Short-term deferiprone may reduce body iron in some patients with thal assaemia major. Concerns regarding potential immunosuppressive effects of deferiprone have been raised from results of animal studies and ca se reports in humans. We studied immune function in 57 thalassaemia pa tients: 36 treated with deferiprone (LI; CP020) and 21 treated with de sferrioxamine (DFO). Circulating B lymphocytes were increased in all p atient groups, No differences were detected between treatment groups i n percentages of circulating lymphocytes, concentrations OF IgG, IgM o r IgA, specific antibody titres, complement levels, or in vitro lympho cyte proliferation. No clinically important infections were observed i n any patient. These data suggest that no clinical or laboratory chang es consistent with immunosuppression or immunodeficiency are observed during deferiprone therapy.