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Treating Iron Overload in Patients With Thalassemia Major

According to the Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF) Guidelines for Clinical Management, iron overload constitutes "the most important complication in β-thalassemia and the major focus of clinical management") (1).

TIF guidelines for monitoring iron overload

TIF guidelines recommend screening for iron overload at the onset of transfusions. Iron overload is likely to be detected after the first 10-20 transfusions (near age 3 years) (2):

  • Monitor serum ferritin at least every 3 months
  • Do not rely on serum ferritin alone
  • Liver iron concentration — determined by biopsy or noninvasively by MRI or SQUID (biomagnetic susceptometry) — is the reference standard for estimating iron loading

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Read the TIF Guidelines

The Thalassaemia International
Federation (TIF) provides guidelines
for the management
of iron overload in thalassemia major.

References

  • (1) Chapter 1: Iron Overload. Cappellini N, Cohen A, Eleftheriou A, Piga A, Porter J, eds. In: Guidelines for the Clinical Management of Thalassaemia: Thalassaemia International Federation; 2000:5-7.
  • (2) Chapter 5: Iron Overload. Cappellini N, Cohen A, Eleftheriou A, Piga A, Porter J, eds. In: Guidelines for the Clinical Management of Thalassaemia: Thalassaemia International Federation; 2000:21-35.

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