Transfusion haemosiderosis inspite of regular use of desferrioxamine: case report.
We describe a case of a female who developed haemosiderosis, in the course of treatment for very severe unstable aplastic anaemia for fourteen years. She was 37 years old at the time of initial diagnosis. Her management consisted of regular blood transfusions aimed at haemoglobin above 8.5 g/dl, antimicrobials, oxymetholone, low dose prednisone and folate. She had received about seventy five units of blood at the start of 2 grams of desferrioxamine with every subsequent blood transfusion. Annual tests of serum ferritin showed progressive increase. She developed skin changes, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, recurrent infections, generalized joint and abdominal pains and liver failure. She died within six weeks of developing congestive heart failure coupled with liver failure due to haemosiderosis despite regular use of desferrioxamine.
Mwanda
O W
OW
Department of Haematology and Blood Transfussion, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, PO Box 19676, Nairobi, Kenya.
Otieno
C F
CF
Abdalla
F K
FK
D000328:Adult; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000628:therapy; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006486:Hemosiderosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D017211:Treatment Failure
D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D003676:Deferoxamine