Transfusional Iron Overload
Description
Each red cell concentrate contains approximately 250 mg of iron. Because iron cannot be excreted physiologically in patients requiring chronic red cell transfusions, iron accumulates in body organs, particularly in the liver, heart and endocrine organs.
Incidence
The incidence of transfusion-associated iron overload is rare, affecting only chronic transfusion recipients who have undergone regular red cell transfusions for many years.
Patients with chronic anemias at risk for iron overload include those with:
- thalassemia major
- sickle cell disease
- myelodysplasia (including sideroblastic anemia)
- moderate aplastic anemia
- Diamond-Blackfan anemia