Efficacy and safety of deferiprone for the treatment of pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN) and neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA): results from a four years follow-up.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the long-term effect of Deferiprone (DFP) in reducing brain iron overload and improving neurological manifestations in patients with NBIA.

METHODS:

6 NBIA patients (5 with genetically confirmed PKAN), received DFP solution at 15 mg/kg po bid. They were assessed by UPDRS/III and UDRS scales and blinded video rating, performed at baseline and every six months. All patients underwent brain MRI at baseline and during follow up. Quantitative assessment of brain iron was performed with T2* relaxometry, using a gradient multi-echo T2* sequence.

RESULTS:

After 48 months of treatment clinical rating scales and blinded video rating indicated a stabilization in motor symptoms in 5/6 Pts. In the same subjects MRI evaluation showed reduced hypointensity in the globus pallidus (GP); quantitative assessment confirmed a significant increment in the T2* value, and hence reduction of the iron content of the GP.

CONCLUSION:

The data from our 4-years follow-up study confirm the safety of DFP as a chelator agent for iron accumulation. The clinical stabilization observed in 5/6 of our patients suggests that DFP may be a reasonable therapeutic option for the treatment of the neurological manifestations linked with iron accumulation and neurodegeneration, especially in adult patients at early stage of the disease. (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NTC00907283).

• Authors: Giovanni Cossu, Giovanni Abbruzzese, Gildo Matta, Daniela Murgia, Maurizio Melis, Valeria Ricchi, Renzo Galanello, Susanna Barella, Raffaella Origa, Manuela Balocco, Elisa Pelosin, Roberta Marchese, Uberto Ruffinengo, Gian Luca Forni
• Journal: Parkinsonism & related disorders (Parkinsonism Relat Disord) Vol. 20 Issue 6 Pg. 651-4 (Jun 2014) ISSN: 1873-5126 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24661465 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Iron Chelating Agents
• Pyridones
• Deferiprone

Topics

• Adult
• Deferiprone
• Female
• Humans
• Iron Chelating Agents (therapeutic use)
• Iron Metabolism Disorders (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Longitudinal Studies
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neuroaxonal Dystrophies (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Pyridones (therapeutic use)
• Severity of Illness Index
• Young Adult