[Continuous subcutaneous deferoxamine treatment in thalassemia major. Decrease of hemosiderosis and improvement of liver function].

Liver function during continuous subcutaneous deferoxamine therapy was investigated in 29 patients with homozygotic beta-thalassaemia. Average duration of treatment was 26 months (range 8-51 months). A decrease in haemosiderosis and an improvement in liver function was observed in 27 patients: Mean liver density, determined by computed tomography, decreased from 98 to 84 HU, mean serum ferritin concentration fell from 8028 to 3661 ng/ml, mean serum GOT activity from 44 to 13 U/l and GPT from 51 to 16 U/l. Mean cholinesterase activity, reflecting the improved synthetic activity of the liver, increased from 4063 to 4530 U/l.