Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology
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J. Pediatr. Hematol. Oncol. · Jan 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudySubcutaneous bolus injection of deferoxamine is an alternative method to subcutaneous continuous infusion.
The objective of this study was to compare the short- and long-term efficacy of deferoxamine (DFO) given by subcutaneous (SC) continuous infusion over 10 hours via a pump (n = 10) versus a twice-daily subcutaneous bolus injection of the same overall dose (n = 10) in 20 thalassemic children. Urinary iron excretion was measured in 24-hour urine samples after DFO treatment in the 20 patients. The patients were randomized to two groups: 10 patients continued SC continuous infusion with a pump and the remaining 10 received the same overall dose of DFO by twice-daily SC bolus injection for a year. ⋯ Hepatic iron concentration was noted to be slightly increased in two patients in the SC continuous infusion group, which may be due to poor compliance. Based on these results, twice-daily SC bolus injection of DFO is as effective as administration via SC continuous infusion using a pump. Subcutaneous bolus injection, being more convenient for the patient, may be a more preferable method of DFO administration.