en
Iron Overload
How is transfusional iron overload diagnosed?
Transfusional iron overload may be seen after as few as 10 red blood cell transfusions, making iron overload a common secondary disease among transfusion dependent patients. Patients with chronic severe anemias caused by thalassemia, sickle cell disease, and myelodysplastic syndromes are at greatest risk. Accurate assessment of body iron burden is necessary, not only to diagnose iron overload but also to effectively manage therapy. In addition, given the late onset of clinical symptoms after substantial organ damage has already occurred, it is important that an accurate, non-invasive, readily available screening test for iron overload is available.
A variety of tests are available to assess iron burden or its functional effects. The use of two or more tests will usually be required to define the patient’ s iron burden and distribution in tissues.
How is transfusional iron overload treated?
Iron chelation therapy is the first-line therapy in transfusional iron overload. Effective iron chelation therapy is required to reduce body iron levels in regularly transfused patients. The effect of chelation therapy is two-fold: [1] to chelate “free” or labile plasma iron [LPI] in the blood in order to help prevent iron loading of organs; and [2] to remove excess iron from within hepatic, myocardial, and endocrine cells.
Where can I learn more about iron chelation?
What are the symptoms of iron transfusional iron overload?
One of the primary risks of iron overload is that symptoms are not apparent until substantial tissue damage in vital organs has occurred. Common, non specific complaints include abdominal discomfort, lethargy, and fatigue. The lack of specific symptoms, coupled with its potential to cause severe damage to key organs, means that screening for iron overload in high-risk patients is recommended.
What do I need to talk to my doctor about?
- My risks for iron overload
- My ferritin and LIC levels, what they are and what they should be
- What are the benefits of chelation therapy
- What chelation agents are available
- Which chelation therapy best suits my needs
Top Employers
ABOUT NOVARTIS
On March 7th, 1996 Sandoz and Ciba-Geigy, the two Swiss-based chemical/life sciences giants, became Novartis
