Long-term administration of desferrioxamine in thalassaemia major.

Studies of desferrioxamine (DFA) as a specific iron-chelating agent in the treatment of haemosiderosis have been reported in various conditions, but there has been only limited evaluation of its long-term use in thalassaemia major. In the present study 1 g DFA was given intramuscularly daily 6 days per week in 3 patients for 5 to 8 years, and in another 7 patients for 10 to 22 months. In addition, 500 mg DFA was added to each unit of donor blood at the time of transfusions. Urinary iron excretion after DFA was estimated using atomic absorption spectrophotometry both before and periodically during DFA treatment. During follow-up, cardiac and liver functions were assessed by ECG, chest -ray, and liver function tests. The results show that DFA therapy increased urinary iron excretion, and that this was associated with a significant improvement in the clinical symptoms and signs of haemosiderosis and with return towards normal in the ECG and liver function tests.