Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: A Multicenter, Randomized, Open-label Phase II Trial Evaluating Deferasirox Compared With Deferoxamine in Patients With Cardiac Iron Overload Due to Chronic Blood Transfusions
Brief Summary: This is a clinical research study in patients who have iron overload in the heart due to chronic blood transfusions.

The study will have 2 treatment groups and will compare the safety and efficacy of chelation therapy with a medicine called deferasirox (ICL670) with another medicine called deferoxamine (DFO). The study is aimed at finding out which of the two medicines is the best for treating iron overload in the heart.

Patients will be treated for 12 months (core study phase). Patients who complete the core study phase will be offered to continue their study treatment in a 12 months extension phase. During the core and extension, the effects of treatment on iron overload in the heart and the liver will be evaluated using specific magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessments.


Options:
A: Inclusion criteria:

* Male or female patients, aged 10 years and above, with β-thalassemia major or DBA or sideroblastic anemia on chronic transfusion therapy, having given written consent to participate in the study.
* Patients with cardiac iron as measured by a myocardial T2\* value that is ≥ 6ms but not ≥ 20 ms.
* Patients with a lifetime history of at least 50 units of red cell transfusions, and must be receiving at least ≥10 units/yr of red blood cells transfusions.
* Patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 56 % as determined by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).
* Patients with liver iron content (LIC) value ≥ 3 mg Fe / g dw, as determined by liver MRI.

Exclusion criteria:

* Patients with clinical symptoms of cardiac dysfunction.
* Patients unable to undergo study assessments including MRI
* Patients participating in another clinical trial or receiving an investigational drug.

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female ≥ 2 years of age;
2. Have sickle cell disease (confirmed by Hb electrophoresis or more specific tests) or other conditions with iron overload from repeated blood transfusions (see exclusion criteria for exceptions);
3. Baseline LIC \>7 mg/g dw (measured by MRI);
4. Patients who have received no less than 20 transfusions of RBCs;
5. Patients who have received at least 1 transfusion per year in the last 2 years and who are expected to have a continuing requirement (based on Investigator's judgement) during the duration of the trial

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Thalassemia syndromes;
2. Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or myelofibrosis;
3. Diamond Blackfan anemia;
4. Primary bone marrow failure;
5. Baseline LIC \>30 mg/g dw (measured by MRI);
6. Unable or unwilling to undergo a 7 day washout period if currently being treated with deferiprone or deferoxamine or deferasirox;
7. Previous discontinuation of treatment with deferiprone or deferoxamine due to adverse events;
8. History or presence of hypersensitivity or idiosyncratic reaction to deferiprone or deferoxamine;
9. Treated with hydroxyurea within 30 days;
10. History of malignancy;
11. Evidence of abnormal liver function (serum ALT level(s) \> 5 times upper limit of normal at screening or creatinine levels \>2 times upper limit of normal at screening);
12. A serious, unstable illness, as judged by the Investigator, during the past 3 months before screening/baseline visit including but not limited to: hepatic, renal, gastro-enterologic, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrinologic, neurologic or immunologic disease;
13. Clinically significant abnormal 12-lead ECG findings;
14. Cardiac MRI T2\* \<10ms;
15. Myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest or cardiac failure within 1 year before screening/baseline visit;
16. Unable to undergo MRI
17. Presence of metallic objects such as artificial joints, inner ear (cochlear) implants, brain aneurysm clips, pacemakers, and metallic foreign bodies in the eye or other body areas that would prevent use of MRI imaging
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Subjects with transfusional iron overload secondary to thalassemia major , sickle cell disease showing up-trend in SF aged 6 Years or older, may participate after Approval of Ethical committee giving written informed consent.
* Subjects must have a serum ferritin greater than \>2500 ng/mL, a platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3, and a serum creatinine within the normal range.
* A woman of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test at screening. She must use a medically acceptable form of birth control during the study and for 1 month afterward.
* The subjects must also have a level of understanding and willingness to cooperate with the confinement and procedures described in the consent form and scheduled by the study site. In addition, he/she must be able to provide voluntary written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subjects with a past history of agranulocytosis, history of clinically significant gastrointestinal, renal, hepatic ALT \> 10 times high normal, OR \> 50% increase of serum creatinine from basal value, pulmonary or cardiovascular disease. Patients with a history of tuberculosis, epilepsy, psychosis, glaucoma or any other condition, which in the opinion of the investigators, would jeopardize the safety of the subject or impact the validity of the study results.
* Subjects with HIV positive or have active HCV.
* A history of serious immunologic hypersensitivity to any medication, such as anaphylaxis or angioedema.
* Participation in a previous investigational drug study within the 30 days preceding screening..
* Women who are pregnant, or breast-feeding.
* Current alcohol or drug abuse.
* An inability to adhere to the designated procedures and restrictions of this protocol.
* Subjects receiving warfarin, digoxin, or anti-arrhythmic or anti-seizure medications.
* Subjects with a known allergy to Exjade or DFP that prevents chronic administration.
D: Inclusion criteria

* Patients who completed the 12-month core study (NCT00061750)
* Female patients after menarche and who were sexually active, if they used double-barrier contraception, oral contraceptive plus barrier contraceptive, or had undergone clinically documented total hysterectomy and/or ovariectomy, or tubal ligation
* Written informed consent obtained from the patient and/or legal guardian on the patient's behalf in accordance with the national legislation

Exclusion criteria

* Pregnant or breast feeding patients
* Patients with a history of non-compliance to medical regimens or those considered to be potentially unreliable

Answer: A