Children whose medical condition requires regular red blood cell transfusions can develop iron overload, meaning there is too much iron in the body. Red blood cells contain iron, so each time your child receives a red blood cell transfusion more iron is going into their body. Without a way to get rid of the extra iron, it build ups in the internal organs, such as the liver, pancreas, heart and endocrine glands, and can damage them over time.
Iron overload is treated with the use of iron chelation drugs. There are two iron chelators currently available and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
- Deferoxamine (Desferal®), given subcutaneously (under the skin)
- Deferasirox (Exjade® or Jadenu®) a once-daily oral chelator, available as a dispersible or film-coated tablet
One additional iron chelator, not yet approved by the FDA, is currently being used in Europe, Asia, and Canada.
