Deferasirox: for iron overload: only a third-line option.

In patients with iron overload, oral deferasirox has a less favourable risk-benefit balance than subcutaneous deferoxamine: deferasirox appears to be less effective and also has more hepatic and renal adverse effects. In second-line situations it is better to first use deferiprone (another oral treatment, with which deferasirox has not been compared), a drug with which we have more experience. However, as iron chelation can be a lifelong necessity for some patients, deferasirox can be reserved as a third-line option which may be useful in some cases.