Iron overload in a non-transfused patient with thalassaemia intermedia

A patient with thalassemia intermedia and haemosiderosis is reported. This patient did not receive transfusions or iron therapy. The iron absorption and the plasma iron turnover (PIT) were increased. Transfusions were carried out in order to decrease the amount of abnormal erythropoiesis. After that, the erythropoietin and PIT were decreased to normal levels and the iron absorption also returned to normal. The data presented suggest that increased erythropoiesis was responsible for the abnormally high iron absorption and subsequently for the haemosiderosis of the patient presented.