Transfusional hemosiderosis is the accumulation of iron in the liver and/or heart but also endocrine organs, in patients who receive frequent blood transfusions (such as those with thalassemia, sickle cell disease, aplastic anemia or myelodysplastic syndrome).
[edit] Treatment
Treatment is by phlebotomy if anemia is no more an issue, or iron chelating agents: deferoxamine,[1] deferiprone or deferasirox. If iron overload has caused end-organ damage, this is generally irreversible and may require transplantation.
[edit] Notable patients
Ted DeVita, the "bubble boy", died of transfusional iron overload from too many blood transfusions.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
