Deferasirox in iron-overloaded patients with transfusion-dependent myelodysplastic syndromes: Results from the large 1-year EPIC study

The prospective 1-year EPIC study enrolled 341 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS); although baseline iron burden was >2500 ng/mL, similar to 50% were chelation-naive. Overall median serum ferritin decreased significantly at 1 year (p = 0.002). Decreases occurred irrespective of whether patients were chelation-naive or previously chelated; changes were dependent on dose adjustments and ongoing iron intake. Sustained reductions in labile plasma iron were observed. Discontinuation rate (48.7%) and adverse event profile were consistent with previously reported deferasirox data in MDS. Alanine aminotransferase levels decreased significantly; change correlated significantly with reduction in serum ferritin (p < 0.0001). This large dataset prospectively confirms the efficacy and well characterizes the safety profile of deferasirox in MDS. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.