[Iron chelation in children].

Abstract

Iron-chelating treatment is indicated in all children on prolonged transfusion therapy (i.e., chiefly patients with thalassemia and Blackfan-Diamond anemia). The purpose of iron-chelating treatment is to prevent the development of manifestations of iron overload including cardiac hemosiderosis and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (which are two potentially fatal complications), hepatic cirrhosis, hypoparathyroidism, hypothyroidism, and delayed puberty. Deferoxamine is the only effective iron-chelating agent and should be given in a daily dose of 40 mg/kg at initiation of the transfusion program. Administration is by subcutaneous infusions from 8 to 10 hours per day. The goal of iron-chelating treatment is to maintain serum ferritin levels between 500 and 1,000 ng/ml. This long-term treatment is a significant burden for patients and it can be hoped that non-toxic iron-chelating agents, active by mouth, will become available.

• Authors: M de Montalembert, F Guillemot, M Clairicia, R Girot
• Journal: Annales de pediatrie (Ann Pediatr (Paris)) Vol. 36 Issue 8 Pg. 533-8 (Oct 1989) ISSN: 0066-2097 [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: La chélation du fer chez l'enfant.
• PMID: 2683951 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Iron Chelating Agents

Topics

• Adolescent
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Hematologic Diseases (therapy)
• Humans
• Iron Chelating Agents (therapeutic use)
• Transfusion Reaction