The treatment of post-transfusional hemochromatosis with chelating agents
Delvaux, D.; Andrien, J.M.; Fillet, G.
Revue Medicale de Liege 36(11): 477-480
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0370-629X PMID: 6789438 Document Number: 170191
Excess Fe is the principal cause of death in Cooley's anemia (thalassemia major) and other posttransfusion hemochromatoses. Desferrioxamine, an Fe-specific chelating agent, cannot induce a negative Fe balance when administered daily i.m. Continuous s.c. perfusion of desferrioxamine by portable pump achieves this goal and is the 1st effective treatment for the excess Fe of repeatedly transfused anemic patients. With new chelating agents, an effective oral combination of several drugs of different action mechanisms may be found.