Non-transferrin-bound iron during blood transfusion cycles in beta-thalassemia major

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2005:1054:429-32. doi: 10.1196/annals.1345.074.

Abstract

Serum non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) levels assessed at arbitrary time points during transfusion cycles may not be representative if NTBI is undergoing significant changes during transfusion cycles. In 15 patients with beta-thalassemia major (age: 21 +/- 6 years, liver iron concentration: 2200 +/- 1200 microg/g-liver), NTBI and other hematologic parameters (transferrin saturation, transferrin receptor) were measured weekly. The largest variation of NTBI levels between individual patients was observed at midcycle. For long-term monitoring of NTBI levels, a particular time point relative to the last blood transfusion should be selected for blood drawing.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Blood Specimen Collection
  • Blood Transfusion*
  • Chelation Therapy
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Deferoxamine / therapeutic use
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Humans
  • Iron / blood*
  • Iron Chelating Agents / therapeutic use
  • Liver / chemistry
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Prospective Studies
  • Receptors, Transferrin / analysis
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Time Factors
  • Transferrin / analysis
  • beta-Thalassemia / blood
  • beta-Thalassemia / drug therapy
  • beta-Thalassemia / therapy*

Substances

  • Iron Chelating Agents
  • Receptors, Transferrin
  • Transferrin
  • Iron
  • Deferoxamine