No benefit of iron chelation in haemorrhagic stroke

Trials for treatments for intracerebral bleeds may need to be extended to six months
Clare Pain
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The use of the iron chelator, deferoxamine mesylate, in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage is unlikely to bring benefit by 90 days, but six-month trials may show it has a positive impact on recovery, a US study suggests.

The results of the phase 2 clinical trial (i-DEF) in 283 adult patients have thrown researchers into a quandary, according to Australian neurologist and epidemiologist Professor Craig Anderson, of the George Institute of Global Health at UNSW.