The quality of life of transfusion-dependent thalassaemia patients is affected by the disease itself and iron overload complications from repeated blood transfusion. Desferrioxamine has been used to remove the excess iron, resulting in decreased mortality and morbidity. In Malaysia, a significant proportion of the transfusion-dependent thalassaemia patients are not prescribed desferrioxamine, due to its high cost, especially as it is not subsidized by the government. The aim of this study was to measure the quality of life of thalassaemia patients on desferrioxamine treatment.
Worldwide, thalassemia is the most commonly inherited hemolytic anemia, and it is most prevalent in Asia and the Middle East. Iron overload represents a significant problem in patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia. Chelation therapy with deferoxamine has traditionally been the standard therapeutic option but its usage is tempered by suboptimal patient compliance due to the discomfort and demands associated with the administration regimen. Therefore, a great deal of attention has been focused on the development of oral chelating agents. Deferiprone, even though available for nearly two decades in Asia with recent encouraging data on cardiac iron removal and long-term efficacy, has serious adverse effects including agranulocytosis and neutropenia which has impeded it from routine clinical practice. A novel oral chelator; deferasirox is effective throughout a 24 h dosing period and both preclinical and clinical data indicate that it successfully removes both hepatic and cardiac iron. In Asia, optimal management of severe thalassemia patients and the availability and access to oral iron chelators still presents a major challenge in many countries. In this regard, the development and implementation of consensus guidelines for management of Asian patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia will be a major step towards improving and maintaining the continuity of patient care.