title: Desferrioxamine treatment of iron overload secondary to RH isoimmunization and intrauterine transfusion in a newborn infant.
abstract: Intrauterine transfusion is the standard of care in the management of severe Rh isoimmunization. Desferrioxamine has been used for the treatment of iron overload secondary to hemolysis and intrauterine transfusions in Rh isoimmunization cases. Here, we report a preterm infant born at 34 weeks of gestational age who had formerly received intrauterine transfusions for Rhesus hemolytic disease and presented with severe hyperferritinemia and elevated liver enzymes in the first week of life. Desferrioxamine treatment was started due to a ferritin level of 28,800 ng/ml and continued for 13 weeks. Although the treatment was successful, we observed resistant leukopenia which resolved after the cessation of treatment. In conclusion, iron overload secondary to intrauterine transfusions can be treated successfully with desferrioxamine; however, neonatologists must be aware of the possible side effects of this drug which has been used in only a limited number of newborns.
authors: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, 35100 Bornova/Izmir, Turkey. mehmet.yalaz@ege.edu.tr
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Yalaz
authors: Betül Siyah
authors: BS
authors: Bilgin
authors: Ozge Altun
authors: OA
authors: Köroğlu
authors: Yılmaz
authors: Y
authors: Ay
authors: Ciğdem
authors: C
authors: Arıkan
authors: Sermet
authors: S
authors: Sagol
authors: Mete
authors: M
authors: Akısü
authors: Nilgün
authors: N
authors: Kültürsay
mesh_terms: D001805:Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D012203:Rh Isoimmunization / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D017262:Siderophores / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D017262:Siderophores; D003676:Deferoxamine