Iron chelation therapy for myelodysplastic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Liu et al., 2020 | Clin Exp Med | Meta Analysis

Citation

Liu Hailing, Yang Nan, ... Zhang Wanggang. Iron chelation therapy for myelodysplastic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Exp Med. 2020-Feb;20(1):1-9. doi:10.1007/s10238-019-00592-5

Abstract

Iron overload remains a concern in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients especially those requiring recurrent blood transfusions. Whether iron chelating therapy (ICT) is beneficial to the long-term survival of myelodysplastic syndrome is still a controversial issue. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify the relationship between ICT and long-term survival in patients with MDS. A total of 14 studies involving 7242 participants were identified; the outcomes revealed that for patients with MDS, ICT resulted in a lower risk of mortality compared to those with no ICT (HR 0.57; 95% CI 0.44-0.70; P < 0.001); what is more, ICT led to a lower risk of leukemia transformation (HR 0.70; 95% CI 0.52-0.93; P = 0.016). Results of subgroup analyses based on adequate ICT or any ICT, low/int-1 IPSS or unclassified IPSS and study types indicated that the ICT had a beneficial role in all these groups of patients.

Key Findings

Results of subgroup analyses based on adequate ICT or any ICT, low/int-1 IPSS or unclassified IPSS and study types indicated that the ICT had a beneficial role in all these groups of patients.

Outcomes Measured

• Requires manual extraction

Population

MeSH Terms

• Chelation Therapy
• Humans
• Iron
• Iron Overload
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes
• Survival Analysis
• Treatment Outcome

Evidence Classification

• Level: Meta Analysis
• Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
• Vertical: iron

Provenance

• PMID: 31712933
• DOI: 10.1007/s10238-019-00592-5
• PMCID: Not in PMC
• Verified: 2026-04-09 via PubMed E-utilities API

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09