Glucose metabolism disorders improvement in patients with thalassaemia major after 24-36 months of intensive chelation therapy.

Thalassaemic patients with haemocromatosis often present with metabolic disturbances such as diabetes mellitus. A group of adult thalassaemic patients who received intensive oral and subcutaneous chelation therapy (Defferiprone/Ferriprox and Desferioxamine/Desferal) for a period of 24-36 months was studied for the presence of glucose metabolism disturbances (GMD). Investigation of the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was carried out by yearly oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT). Results showed that GMD (DM and IGT) improved in 1/3 of the patients after the intensive combined chelation treatment, a finding that we attributed to a reduction in liver iron deposits. Although this study is still in progress we believe that intensive combined chelation therapy may have a positive effect on glucose metabolism.