Adverse effects of a modified regime of intravenous desferrioxamine

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.