Iranian journal of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Iranian journal of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Iran J Ped Hematol Oncol
Medical Sciences
http://ijpho.ssu.ac.ir
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2008-8892
2228-6993
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8888
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jalali
1400
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gregorian
2021
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A Randomized, Controlled Study Evaluating the Effects of Silymarin Addition to Deferasirox on the Liver Function of Children with Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia
قلب
Heart
پژوهشي
Research
<div><strong>Background: </strong>Frequent blood transfusion can lead to iron overload which is potentially dangerous for the heart and liver. Silymarin has well-documented protective effects on hepatocytes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of silymarin addition to iron chelators in children with thalassemia.<br>
<strong>Materials and Methods: </strong>This randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled trial was performed on 40 subjects with thalassemia major and intermedia in Amir Kabir Hospital, Arak, Iran. Subjects were randomized 1:1 oral to 30 mg/kg deferasirox plus placebo, or deferasirox plus oral 70-140 mg silymarin (twice daily) for 6 months. Cardiac and hepatic iron levels and levels of Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), Alanine transaminase (ALT), Aspartate transaminase (AST), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, albumin, total protein, and total cholesterol were measured at baseline and after 6 months of treatment.<br>
<strong>Results: </strong>The mean age of patients was 16 years and 60% of patients were female. After 6 months, there were significant increases in the levels of ALT, AST, GGT, and TG in the placebo group as compared to the silymarin group (P < 0.05). In contrast, ALT, AST, and GGT had significant reductions compared to the silymarin group (P =0.05). Patients in the placebo group had a rise in total bilirubin (P = 0.07), but total protein and albumin did not have significant changes in the silymarin group (P > 0.05). Finally, a significant improvement was noted in cardiac iron values in patients using silymarin; 22.2 ± 6.6 ms at baseline vs 26.9 ± 7.1 ms at 6 months (P < 0.05).<br>
<strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study suggests that twice-daily addition of silymarin to deferasirox could improve liver function in children with thalassemia major and intermedia. Silymarin seems safe in pediatrics.</div>
Deferasirox, Liver Function, Silymarin, Thalassemia
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http://ijpho.ssu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-534-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1
Aziz
Egbali
aziz_eghbali@yahoo.com