Thalidomide has a significant effect in patients with thalassemia intermedia. Issue 1 (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, YunShuan; Ren, Quan; Zhou, Yali; Li, Pingping; Lin, Wanhua; Yin, Xiaolin
• Is Part Of: Hematology. Volume 23:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 50
• Page End: 54
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: Thalassemia intermedia -- thalidomide -- effect -- transfusion; Blood -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Hematology -- Periodicals; Blood -- Transfusion -- Periodicals; 616.15005
• DOI: 10.1080/10245332.2017.1354427
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1024-5332

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objective : To investigate the effect of thalidomide in patients with thalassemia intermedia. Methods: We observed the effect of thalidomide in seven patients with thalassemia intermedia requiring blood transfusion. Four of the patients were transfusion-independent, and three patients were transfusion-dependent. Results: For the four transfusion-independent patients, hemoglobin concentration increased significantly (≥2 g/dl) in three and moderately (1–2 g/dl) in one. After 3 months of treatment, hemoglobin concentration increased 3.2 ± 1.2 g/dl compared to pretreatment. Among the three transfusion-dependent patients, transfusion was terminated after one month of treatment in one patient and decreased >50% in the other two patients, accompanied by an increase in the average hemoglobin concentration. Conclusion: Thalidomide had a significant effect in patients with thalassemia intermedia. Further studies of a larger scale and more rigorous design are warranted.