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deferoxamine (Desferal)
Tradename: Desferal. (deferoxamine mesylate)
Indication:
1) chelation therapy for iron poisoning
2) investigational use for treatment of Al+3 accumulation in renal failure
3) hemochromatosis
4) removal or corneal rust rings following surgical removal of foreign bodies
Contraindications:
- pregnancy [7]
Dosage:
1) acute iron poisoning
- 10-15 mg/kg/hr IV until serum iron < 250 ug/dL or until urine turns from "salmon" color to clear
- 50 mg/kg IM/IV up to 500-1000 mg twice, 4 hours apart
2) chronic iron overload
- 0.5-1 g IM QD
- infusion: 20-40 mg/kg/day infused over 8-24 hours
3) max dose 6.0 g/day
4) infusion for > 24 hours associated with increased risk of ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) [7]
Powder for injection: 500 mg.
Pharmacokinetics:
1) widely distributed to tissues
2) eliminated in the urine
3) chelation complex can be removed by dialysis
Adverse effects:
1) not common (1-10%)
- pain & induration at site of injection
2) uncommon (< 1%)
- flushing, hypotension, tachycardia, shock, swelling, fever, erythema*, urticaria*, pruritus*, rash, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, cutaneous wheal formation, leg cramps, blurred vision, cataracts, hearing loss, anaphylaxis
* Administer antihistamines for allergic reactions.
Mechanism of action:
1) chelates iron by binding ferric (Fe+3) ions
2) 1 g of deferoxamine chelates 85 mg of Fe+3
3) Fe+3:deferoxamine complex is H2O soluble & excreted in the urine
4) deferoxamine also chelates aluminum
Related
deferoxamine infusion test
General
chelating agent
Properties
MISC-INFO: elimination route KIDNEY
pregnancy-category C
safety in lactation ?
Database Correlations
PUBCHEM correlations
References
- Saunders Manual of Medical Practice, Rakel (ed), WB Saunders,
Philadelphia, 1996, pg 1155
- The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th ed.
Gilman et al, eds. Permagon Press/McGraw Hill, 1996
- Drug Information & Medication Formulary, Veterans Affairs,
Central California Health Care System, 1st ed., Ravnan et al
eds, 1998
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California Regional Drug
Formulary, 1998
- Department of Veterans Affairs, VA National Formulary
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 17,
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2015
- NEJM Knowledge+ Question of the Week. Aug 21, 2018
https://knowledgeplus.nejm.org/question-of-week/4149/