[Frequent occurrence of Yersinia infection in hemosiderosis]

Antibodies against Yersinia were found in 12 of 50 patients with hemosiderosis, in 11 of 47 patients with thalassemia major and in one of three patients with Blackfan-Diamond anemia. All patients were treated with subcutaneous continuous deferoxamin-infusions. A systemic yersiniosis occurred in seven patients, all with homozygous beta-thalassemia, in five during and in two before treatment with deferoxamin. Hemosiderosis and infusions with deferoxamin seem to increase the risk of yersinia septicemia.