Renal Function in Patients with Thalassemia Major Receiving Exjade(®) Dispersible Tablets and a New Film-coated Tablet Formulation of Deferasirox (Nanojade(®))

BACKGROUND: In patients with β-thalassemia major (TM), one of the long-term complications of regular blood transfusion is renal dysfunction. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the renal function in TM patients receiving Exjade(®) dispersible tablets and a new film-coated tablet formulation of deferasirox (Nanojade(®)). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a total of 80 TM patients aged 11–48-year-old entered the study. Patients received 20–30 mg/kg/d (single dose) Exjade® (Exjade group, n = 40) and Nanojade® (Nanojade group, n = 40) orally. To evaluated renal function, serum creatinine (S(Cr)), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), 24-h urine protein (U(Pro)), U(Ca)/U(Cr), spot U(Pro)/U(Cr) ratio, and serum ferritin were calculated at baseline and every 3 months to 9 months. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in S(Cr), BUN, eGFR, 24-h U(Pro), U(Pro)/U(Cr) ratio, U(Ca)/U(Cr) ratio, and serum ferritin between groups at baseline and end of study (P(baseline)> 0.05, P(end of study)> 0.05). There was no significant difference in proteinuria between groups at baseline and end of study (P(baseline)> 0.05, P(end of study)> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of S(Cr), BUN, eGFR, 24-h U(Pro), U(Pro)/U(Cr) ratio, and U(Ca)/U(Cr) ratio was not significantly different in TM patients treated with Nanojade(®) compared to patients’ received Exjade(®). Nanojade(®) had similar effects to Exjade(®), and therefore, the use of Nanojade(®) is safe in TM patients and does not seem to be associated with increased renal failure, proteinuria, and hypercalciuria.