title: No effect of deferoxamine therapy on glucose homeostasis and insulin secretion in individuals with NIDDM and elevated serum ferritin.
abstract: Deferoxamine has been proposed as a potentially important therapy for individuals with NIDDM and mild elevations in serum ferritin. Previously, iron chelation therapy with intravenous deferoxamine over a 5-13-wk period has been reported to normalize serum ferritin and markedly improve glycemic control. To confirm these results and to study potential beneficial effects of deferoxamine on insulin secretion, 9 individuals with NIDDM and elevated serum ferritin levels were treated twice weekly with deferoxamine infusion, following a previously described protocol. Although 8 of 9 subjects achieved normal or near-normal serum ferritin values after deferoxamine therapy, we found little evidence that it produced beneficial effects on glycemic control. Fasting glucose levels pre- and post-deferoxamine therapy were unchanged (11.6 +/- 1.2 and 11.3 +/- 1.5 mM, respectively, P = 0.80). GHb levels declined slightly after deferoxamine therapy (9.3 +/- 0.7 vs. 8.8 +/- 0.7%, P < 0.05); however, this effect was small and was not associated with elimination of or even substantial reduction in insulin or oral hypoglycemic therapy. Deferoxamine therapy did not significantly alter fasting insulin or C-peptide levels, nor stimulated insulin or C-peptide responses to intravenous arginine or glucose. During follow-up studies 1.5-8 mo after deferoxamine therapy, serum ferritin levels again were elevated in 5 of 8 subjects who showed an initial response. Thus, although deferoxamine therapy reduced serum ferritin levels in our subjects, we were unable to confirm a previous report that this effect was associated with any meaningful improvement in glycemic control or insulin secretion.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Redmon
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Pyzdrowski
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Robertson
mesh_terms: D001120:Arginine; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007700:Kinetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide; D007328:Insulin; D005293:Ferritins; D001120:Arginine; D003676:Deferoxamine