Table 3.

Comparative analysis of different iron chelators

	Deferoxamine (DFO)	Deferiprone (DFP)	Deferasirox (DFX)
Brand name	Desferal	Ferriprox	Exjade
Chelator-iron, complex ratio	Hexadentate, 1:1	Bidentate, 3:1	Tridentate, 2:1
Dose (mg/kg/day)	25–50	75–100	20–40
Combination and titration doses (mg/kg/day)	Combination therapy with DFO and DFP, 2 days/week DFO and then continue with DFP		Titration therapy
Administration	Subcutaneous or intravenous, 8–10 hrs/day, 5–7 days/wk	Oral, 3 times daily	Oral, once daily
Plasma half-life (hr)	0.5	2–3	8–16
Route of elimination	Biliary and urinary	Urinary	Biliary
Regulatory approval	US, Canada, Europe, other countries	US, Europe, other countries	US, Canada, Europe, other countries
Indication	Transfusion iron overload and acute iron overload	Transfusion iron overload when DFO is contraindicated or inadequate	Transfusion iron overload
Adverse events	Irritation at the infusion site, ocular and auditory disturbances, growth retardation and skeletal changes, allergy, respiratory distress syndrome with higher doses	Agranulocytosis and neutropenia, gastrointestinal disturbances, arthropathy, increased liver enzyme levels, low plasma zinc level, hepatic fibrosis	Gastrointestinal disturbances, rash, increase in serum creatinine level; potentially fatal renal impairment or failure
Advantage/ Disadvantage	Inexpensive/ Compliance	Route of administration / Compliance	Route of administration / Expensive