Transfusion therapy for inherited anemias and acquired refractory anemias both improves the quality of life and prolongs survival. A consequence of chronic transfusion therapy is secondary iron overload, which adversely affects the function of the heart, the liver and other organs. This session will review the use of iron chelating agents in the management of transfusion-induced secondary iron ...

Background: Thalassemia is a series of hemoglobinopathies in which the production of perfect hemoglobin is completely or partially suppressed. Using injectable iron chelators have been dominating treatment for the iron overload caused by recurrent blood transfusions in thalassemic patients, however, a new oral iron chelating drug (Exjade) have been recently introduced and might be cost effec...

There is accumulating evidence that interactions between beta-amyloid and copper, iron, and zinc are associated with the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). A significant dyshomeostasis of copper, iron, and zinc has been detected, and the mismanagement of these metals induces beta-amyloid precipitation and neurotoxicity. Chelating agents offer a potential therapeutic solution to the ne...

The evolution of iron chelators from a range of primordial siderophores and aromatic heterocyclic ligands has lead to the formation of a new generation of potent and efficient iron chelators. For example, various siderophore analogs and synthetic ligands, including ICL670A [4-[3,5-bis-(hydroxyphenyl)-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl]-benzoic acid], 4'-hydroxydesazadesferrithiocin, and Triapine, have been dev...

Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa able to grow readily in serum (serum resistant) produce siderophores in large quantity, enabling them to extract iron from transferrins. The term pyochelin has been proposed for this group of compounds. Pyochelin extractable with ethyl acetate and designated pyochelin A appears to be a mixture of catechols and other phenolates. The structures of water-soluble s...

PROPOSAL The World Health Organization Model List of Essential Medicines and Model Formulary 2010 list deferoxamine (DFO) as the treatment of choice for both acute and chronic iron poisoning. The Model Formulary currently does not designate any orally administered agents for the chelation of iron. It is proposed that deferasirox be considered the oral chelator of choice in the treatment of chro...