High doses of deferiprone may be associated with cerebellar syndrome

We report two cases of cerebellar syndrome after treatment with deferiprone, a metal chelator used to treat iron overload in thalassaemia major. Case 1 —A 9 year old boy was treated for two years with 119 mg/kg/day deferiprone, but this dose was not sufficiently effective (increased ferritin and hepatic cytolysis were noted) and was increased to 238 mg/kg/day. Sixteen months later, the patient developed cerebellar syndrome (dizziness, axial hypotonia, nystagmus, diplopia) and obsessive compulsive disorder. Magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalogram, and …