title: Intensive iron chelation therapy in beta-thalassemia major: some effects on iron metabolism and blood transfusion dependence.
abstract: Subcutaneous infusions of Desferal (DF) rarely induce negative iron balance in thalassemia major patients less than 6 years old. In nonsplenectomized patients the requirements for blood transfusions increase slightly. Urinary iron excretion decreases during the first days following a blood transfusion. An average of 5.8 mg/day equivalent to 30% of the total iron excretion is eliminated with the feces after subcutaneous infusions of DF. Serum ferritin does not decrease significantly after 18-24 months of therapy. The effectiveness of long-term therapy progressively increases in the splenectomized patients, while it decreases appreciably in the course of the treatment in the nonsplenectomized ones.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D013156:Splenectomy; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron; D003676:Deferoxamine