Deferiprone

Information about Deferiprone

Deferiprone is an oral iron chelating agent used to treat transfusion related, chronic iron overload. 

Liver safety of Deferiprone

Deferiprone has been linked to a low rate of transient serum aminotransferase elevations during therapy and to rare instances of clinically apparent liver injury.

Mechanism of action of Deferiprone

Deferiprone (de fer’ i prone) is an orally available iron chelating agent that binds iron with a high affinity and zinc and copper to a lesser extent.  In clinical trials in patients with transfusion related iron overload, deferiprone therapy lowered both circulating and tissue (cardiac, liver) iron levels and maintained reduced iron concentrations in patients previously treated long term with subcutaneous infusions of deferoxamine. 

FDA approval information for Deferiprone

Deferiprone was approved for use in Europe in 1994, but was not approved in the United States until 2011.  Current indications are restricted to patients with transfusion related iron overload due to thalassemic syndromes. 

Dosage and administration for Deferiprone

Deferiprone is available in tablets of 500 mg under the brand name Ferriprox.  The recommended dose is 25 to 33 mg/kg three times daily. 

Side effects of Deferiprone

Side effects can include nausea, abdominal pain, arthralgias and neutropenia (6%).  Severe adverse events include agranulocytosis (1% to 2%) and infections.  Weekly monitoring of white blood cell counts is recommended.

Arsenic Chelators

• Dimercaprol

Copper Chelators (for Wilson Disease)

• Dimercaprol
• Penicillamine
• Trientine
• Zinc

Iron Chelators

• Deferasirox
• Deferiprone
• Deferoxamine

Lead Chelators

• Dimercaprol
• EDTA
• Succimer

Mercury Chelators

• Dimercaprol

• Dailymed label info on Deferiprone
• FDA Deferiprone

Deferiprone Resources
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