Outcomes of Iron Chelation for Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Chelation therapy is associated with improvements in overall survival and transfusion intensity in patients with lower-risk MDS.

Management of anemia is a major goal of therapy for lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Initial strategies include erythropoietin-stimulating agents or lenalidomide, with supportive red blood cell transfusions. The latter, along with ineffective erythropoiesis, contribute to iron overload; studies suggest that iron chelation therapy (ICT) can improve overall survival (OS) and lead to hematological improvement. To further test that hypothesis, researchers assessed those outcomes, as well as ferritin level, in 689 patients with lower-risk MDS enrolled in the European MDS registry, among whom 199 received ICT (with deferasirox, deferoxamine, or deferiprone).

Key findings included the following:

Compared with nonchelated patients, chelated…

Reviewing Author

Brady L. Stein, MD, MHS

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Hematology (Senior Editor, ASH Self-Assessment Program; guideline development)

Brady L. Stein, MD, MHS

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Hematology (Senior Editor, ASH Self-Assessment Program; guideline development)

Outcomes of Iron Chelation for Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome

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Reviewing Author