[Long-term treatment of patients with transfusion hemosiderosis using oral iron chelator 1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxypyrid-4-one (L1)].

A new oral iron chelator, L1, was given for 14 to 16 months to four patients with transfusion haemosiderosis. These patients could no longer be treated with deferoxamine because of allergic reactions or psychological problems. Serum ferritin values at the start of the treatment ranged from 2220 to 4530 microgram/l. L1 was given in a total daily dose of 3 g, at first in a single dose, later 3 times 1 g daily. The 24-hour urinary excretion of iron varied greatly from day to day. The mean urinary iron excretion of the four patients ranged from 19.3 to 45.7 mg/day. In two patients an important decrease of ferritin was found. These patients had been given no more or only sporadic transfusions. In one patient transient agranulocytosis was seen which was probably not caused by L1.