| DRUG WATCH |
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| Year : 2023 | Volume
: 55
| Issue : 5 | Page : 335-337 |
Deferasirox causing duodenal ulcer leading to upper gastrointestinal bleed and hemorrhagic shock in a child with beta-thalassemia major
Anu Tresa, Guruprasad Hassan Shankar, Bhakti U Sarangi, Ajay Walimbe
Department of Pediatrics, Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Correspondence Address:
Bhakti U Sarangi
Department of Pediatrics, Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College and Hospital, Pune - 411 043, Maharashtra
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijp.ijp_151_23
Iron chelators have significantly reduced the morbidity associated with iron overload and improved the quality of life in children with beta-thalassemia major. A 5-year-old female child with beta-thalassemia major on recurrent transfusions and oral chelation with deferasirox was brought with repeated episodes of frank hematemesis and progressive lethargy. Her evaluation revealed anemia, leukocytosis, and deranged liver function with coagulopathy. She was given red blood cell and plasma transfusions with liver supportive medication and proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) infusion. Her upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed multiple ulcers in all three parts of the duodenum, which in the absence of any other likely etiology were attributed to prolonged use of oral deferasirox. The child improved with the above-mentioned measures. Chelation therapy was withheld for 2 weeks and restarted at a lower dose using enteric-coated preparation while PPIs were given for 8 weeks. She showed sustained improvement and remained well on follow-up.
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