Immune function in patients with β thalassaemia receiving the orally active iron-chelating agent deferiprone

Short-term deferiprone may reduce body iron in some patients with thalassaemia major. Concerns regarding potential immunosuppressive effects of deferiprone have been raised from results of animal studies and case reports in humans. We studied immune function in 57 thalassaemia patients: 36 treated with deferiprone (L1; CP020) and 21 treated with desferrioxamine (DFO). Circulating B lymphocytes were increased in all patient groups. No differences were detected between treatment groups in percentages of circulating lymphocytes, concentrations of IgG, IgM or IgA, specific antibody titres, complement levels, or in vitro lymphocyte proliferation. No clinically important infections were observed in any patient. These data suggest that no clinical or laboratory changes consistent with immunosuppression or immunodeficiency are observed during deferiprone therapy.