New Medicine Brings New Life to Thalassaemia

New medicine, deferasirox , brings new life to thalassaemia major patients

This February, it was regretful to hear the news that two patients suffering from 
thalassaemia major committed suicide in Taiwan. They didn't commit suicide 
because of their diseases. However, to eliminate excess iron, patients suffering 
from thalassaemia major need to receive 8-hour to 10-hour intravenous injection 
at least 5 days a week, which brings inconvenience and torture to patients. 

Thalassaemia major is an inherited genetic anemia caused by defection of globin 
chain, which brings about deficiency of hemoglobin. Patients with thalassaemia 
often present pale, growth postponed, and may have big spleens. To keep 
haemoglobin in a normal range, patients need to take transfusion of red blood cells. 
However, blood transfusion creates a new problem, too much iron accumulation 
in human bodies. There is no natural way to get rid of this iron, so it stores gradually 
in human bodies; then finally causes damaged iron-accumulated organs. 
The original way to eliminate overload iron is to receive Deferoxamine treatment, 
which takes 8-hour to 10-hour intravenous injection at least 5 days a week. 
The long term injection makes inconvenience and torture for sufferers. However, 
the oral iron chelator, Deferasirox (ICL 670), is approved by the National Department 
of Health on February 2007. Rather than original treatment, the oral iron chelator, 
Deferasirox (ICL 670), brings more comfortable life to patients. 

A 20-year-old girl, Shau-Ting, has suffered from thalassaemia major more 
than 19 years. Before participating in the trial of oral iron chelator, she spent 10-hour intravenous injection every day. Due to the treatment taken long term injection, 
she lost the chance to enjoy life as other teenagers. However, the new oral iron 
chelator solves this predicament and brings new life to her. From now on, overnight 
journey is no more imagination for her. 

So far, there have been approximately 100  Thalassaemia patients in Taiwan 
receiving oral iron chelator and have reported positive on the treatment. It is 
expected to greatly improve Thalassaemia patients'  quality of life, allowing them 
to participate in more social activities, going on trips and most importantly, staying 
away from the needles. Shau-Ting's parents used to get up in the middle of the 
night checking on her injection. She is glad that with oral iron chelator, her parents 
can finally sleep all night long.