Medication Summary

Chelation therapy with deferoxamine-induced iron depletion is administered in people with C282Y homozygosity unable to undergo phlebotomy. However, compliance and acceptability of deferoxamine therapy in patients with nonhemochromatosis iron overload is poor.

The oral chelators, deferiprone and deferasirox, also remove iron from hepatocytes, the primary site of excess iron deposition in HFE -associated hemochromatosis, but there are no reports of the use of these drugs in people with C282Y homozygosity.^{[105, 106]}

Class Summary

Antidotes for iron toxicity are used in patients with hemochromatosis that is associated with significant anemia or severe end-organ involvement.

Deferoxamine mesylate (Desferal)

View full drug information

Deferoxamine is the agent of choice used in people with C282Y homozygosity unable to undergo phlebotomy.

Questions

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Media Gallery

What is hemochromatosis? Hemochromatosis is a genetic disorder where the body isn’t able to regulate its iron absorption. Iron levels in the body build up over time and damage the liver as well as other organs, through the generation of free radicals. Courtesy of Osmosis.org (https://www.osmosis.org/).

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Author

Andrea Duchini, MD Associate Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Director of Hepatology, University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine; Medical Director of Liver Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine

Andrea Duchini, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, International Liver Transplantation Society, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Hady E Sfeir, MD Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, OSF St Francis Medical Center

Hady E Sfeir, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David M Klachko, MD, MEd Professor Emeritus, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine

David M Klachko, MD, MEd is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, Missouri State Medical Association, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Diabetes Association, American Federation for Medical Research, Endocrine Society, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Praveen K Roy, MD, MSc Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine

Praveen K Roy, MD, MSc is a member of the following medical societies: Alaska State Medical Association, American Gastroenterological Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

Vivek V Gumaste, MD Associate Professor of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine of New York University; Adjunct Clinical Assistant, Mount Sinai Hospital; Director, Division of Gastroenterology, City Hospital Center

Vivek V Gumaste, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology and American Gastroenterological Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Douglas M Heuman, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF Chief of GI, Hepatology, and Nutrition at North Shore University Hospital/Long Island Jewish Medical Center; Professor, Department of Medicine, Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine

Douglas M Heuman, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Physicians, and American Gastroenterological Association

Disclosure: Novartis Grant/research funds Other; Bayer Grant/research funds Other; Otsuka Grant/research funds None; Bristol Myers Squibb Grant/research funds Other; Scynexis None None; Salix Grant/research funds Other; MannKind Other

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment