Treatment of Primary and Secondary Hemochromatosis and Acute Iron Poisoning with a New, Potent Iron-Eliminating Agent (Desferrioxamine-B)

Abstract

THE purpose of this paper is to study the clinical value of a new, potent, specific iron-eliminating agent (desferrioxamine-B, or DFOM)§ in cases of chronic iron overload (primary and secondary hemochromatosis) and to evaluate experimentally its clinical value in acute iron poisoning.Until recently, the excessive amounts of stored iron in primary hemochromatosis could be eliminated only by venesection. Secondary hemochromatosis in sideroachrestic anemia, aplastic anemia (transfusions), thalassemia major and sickle-cell anemia remained a still unsolved problem. Different chelating agents were tried but proved unsatisfactory because of toxic side reactions or elimination of other essential oligometals, such as copper and . . .