Alteration in percentage of HbF and total Hb in 8 patients with homozygous β-thalassemia treated with oral IBT.

Percentage of HbF, —; total Hb, —. Bars indicate the times of blood transfusions and the volume administered. The hatched boxes indicate administration of IBT. After 8 weeks of treatment, the dosage of IBT was increased from 250 mg/kg per day to 350 mg/kg per day in each patient. Treatment was interrupted in patient no. 5 from days 172 to 200 because of septicemia and in patient no. 3 from days 224 to 252 because of peripheral neuropathy.