Population
Patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (12 studies, n= 3,396).
Intervention
Iron chelation therapy (ICT).
Comparison
No iron chelation therapy.
Outcome
Nine studies reported a consistently longer median overall survival on patients receiving ICT compared to those not receiving iron chelation therapy. Meta-analysis of observational studies showed that ICT was associated with an overall lower risk of mortality. Five studies indicated decreased risk while two indicated increased risk of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) progression with ICT. Two studies showed a smaller percentage of deaths caused by AML progression, while three studies showed a larger percentage with ICT. In five studies, ICT decreased risk of cardiac injury.