[Rare indications for iron chelation therapy with desferrioxamine]

In beta thalassaemia patients the subcutaneous desferrioxamine chelation therapy is performed routinely. Rare indications are hypoplastic anaemia, congenital dyserythropoetic anaemia and Fanconi anaemia. We initiated the chelation agent in three patients with the above mentioned diagnoses. The beginning of treatment in hypoplastic anaemia depends upon the quantity of red cell transfusions, whereas in dysterythropoetic anaemia the increased intestinal iron absorption has to be taken into consideration. Aim of the therapy is a negative iron balance. The evaluation of the iron balance is relatively simple. The girl with hypoplastic anaemia has been treated for 1.5 years. Within this time she received 11,680 mg iron by blood transfusions. The urinary iron output was 7112 mg. Depending on the analyzing method, the mean fecal iron excretion amounts 36.5% or 61% of the global excretion. Laboratory findings and clinical course are in favour to the aimed negative iron balance in two patients.