Get resources and tools to
optimize medical care for patients with iron overload.
Join other Iron Overload Nurse Ambassadors (IONA).
Consequences of Untreated Iron Overload
Iron overload may lead to debilitating and life-threatening problems such as diabetes, heart failure, and poor growth (1-3).
Risks of Serum Ferritin > 1000 mcg/L
In both primary and secondary iron overload, serum ferritin >1000 mcg/L is associated with worsened prognosis (1,4).
Transfusion Burden
As few as 10 lifetime red blood cell transfusions can result in transfusional iron overload (5, 6).
Units* x 10 = Transfusional Iron Overload
*2 units may not always be included in
1 transfusion (eg, for pediatric patients).
References
- (1) Takatoku M, Uchiyama T, Okamoto S, et al. Retrospective nationwide survey of Japanese patients with transfusion-dependent MDS and aplastic anemia highlights the negative impact of iron overload on morbidity/mortality. Eur J Haematol. 2007;78:487-94.
- (2) Olivieri NF, Brittenham GM, Iron-chelating therapy and the treatment of thalassemia. Blood 1997; 89(3):739-61.
- (3) Andrews NC, Disorders of iron metabolism. N Engl J Med. 1999;341(26):1986-95
- (4) Morrison ED, Brandhagen DJ, Phatak PD, et al. Serum ferritin level predicts advanced hepatic fibrosis among U.S. patients with phenotypic hemochromatosis. Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:627-33.
- (5) Porter JB, Practical management of iron overload. Br J Haematol. 2001;115(2):239-52.
- (6) 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