• P J Ho, L Tay, R Lindeman, L Catley, and D K Bowden.
• Institute of Haematology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. joy.ho@sswahs.nsw.gov.au
• Intern Med J. 2011 Jul 1; 41 (7): 516-24.

AbstractIron overload is the most important cause of mortality in patients with thalassaemia major. Iron chelation is therefore a critical issue in the management of these patients and others with transfusion-dependent haemoglobinopathies and congenital anaemias. In recent years, significant developments have been made in the assessment of iron overload, including the use of magnetic resonance imaging for measuring liver and cardiac iron. Advances in the modalities available for iron chelation, with the advent of oral iron chelators including deferiprone and deferasirox in addition to parenteral desferrioxamine, have expanded treatment options. A group of Australian haematologists has convened to formulate guidelines for managing iron overload on the basis of available evidence, and to describe best consensus practice as undertaken in major Australian Haemoglobinopathy units. The results of their discussions are described in this article, with the aim of providing guidance in the management of iron overload in these patients.© 2011 The Authors. Internal Medicine Journal © 2011 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

25 keywords...

hide…