Abstract:
The aim of this study was to investigate the side
effects to intravenous desferrioxamine in a cohort of
thalassaemic patients receiving 100 mg/kg/day of
desferrioxamine on 3 consecutive days coinciding
with blood transfusions on a long term basis. The
patients studied were aged 7-22 yrs and the duration
of desferrioxamine therapy exceeded one year.
Hypersensitivity in the form of urticaria occurred in
one patient and was controlled with prednisolone.
None of the patients complained of visual or auditory
symptoms. The non thalassaemic control population
were not on desferrioxamine, and did not have
similar ocular or auditory changes. Six of the study
population (mean age 9.3 years) had lens opacities.
Abnormal audiograms were present in eight (mean
age 10 yrs). The mean ages and the duration of the
desferrioxamine therapy of patients with
abnormalities was higher than the patients in whom
no abnormalities were found.
We conclude that the risk of ocular and auditory
toxicity increased with duration of desferrioxamine
therapy.
We recommend monitoring for visual and
audiometric changes despite the absence of
symptoms even in patients receiving less than the
total recommended dose of intravenous
desferrioxamine.
