Brand name | Desferal | Ferriprox | Exjade |
Usual dosage |
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Route of administration | Subcutaneous, intravenous, 8–10 h/day | Oral, three times daily | Oral, once daily |
Chelator-to-iron binding molar ratio | 1:1 | 3:1 | 2:1 |
Plasma half-life | 5–10 min | 47–143 min | 8–16 h |
Excretion | Urinary, faecal | Urinary | Faecal, urinary |
Advantages |
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| Good chelation of hepatic and cardiac iron; no growth abnormalities or agranulocytocis |
Disadvantages |
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| May be distasteful for younger patients |
Side-effects | Auditory, ocular and neurological toxicity; growth and skeletal abnormalities | Neutropenia and agranulocytosis; muscle and joint pain; gastric intolerance; hepatic dysfunction; zinc deficiency | Gastrointestinal disturbances; rash; and possible renal toxicity |
Monitoring | Annual audiometry and eye examinations |
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Approved indications | Iron overload of any aetiology | Iron overload in thalassaemia major when contraindication or failure of deferioxamine in thalassaemia major |
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