Important Considerations in Iron Chelation Therapy

Any patient receiving regular blood transfusions will need to have the excess iron in their body removed, says Thomas D. Coates, MD. For patients who receive iron chelation therapy, careful monitoring is critical, as renal and neurologic side effects can occur. Iron chelation therapy can also result in low white blood cell counts, adds Coates. In children, it is important to recognize that iron is essential to their growth and development.

In Coates’ opinion, regulating the dose of an iron chelating agent should be based more on tolerance for the medication than on the body’s iron levels. Poor adherence remains an issue with these agents, adds Coates.