Therapy and monitoring of hypersiderosis in chronic renal insufficiency.

In RDT hemosiderosis appears to be an inevitable complication only in the small number of patients in need of frequent transfusions. To prevent clinical consequences (e.g. cardiomyopathy) known from polytransfused patients without renal disease, transplantation should be considered in RDT patients in need of frequent transfusions. Iron substitution - preferably oral - to replace dialysis-related iron loss does not cause clinically significant hemosiderosis provided iron stores are monitored adequately. A sufficient method of controlling iron stores in RDT patients under iron substitution or regular transfusion therapy is a twice annual determination of serum ferritin concentration. The treatment of choice for hemosiderosis in nontransfused RDT patients is discontinuation of iron substitution. When polytransfused RDT patients with severe hemosiderosis cannot be transplanted and submitted consecutively to phlebotomy, DFO treatment is indicated. Quantitative data regarding optimal dosage and application of DFO in RDT patients are not yet available. Constant infusion of DFO during hemodialysis may be superior to bolus application.