Iron-chelation therapy with oral deferiprone--toxicity or lack of efficacy?

The article discusses iron-chelation therapy in patients with homozygous thalassemia major. Red-cell transfusions can prolong life in patients with thalassemia major but can cause iron overload due to the body's inability to expel iron. Iron overload in patients with thalassemia major and hemochromatosis can manifest as cirrhosis, cardiac failure, and hypopituitarism. Iron chelation therapy depletes iron, increasing life expectancy. Deferoxamine prevents iron overload but must be administered through continuous infusion and can cause side effects such as hearing loss and neurotoxicity. Deferiprone is an oral iron-chelating agent licensed for use in India. It has been suggested that deferiprone could cause hepatic fibrosis.