An iron chelator, this drug is used to remove excess iron from the body. Iron overload (too much iron in the body) can occur in patients who get lots of red blood cell transfusions. Deferiprone comes in a pill form and is taken by mouth. Deferiprone is approved for use in Europe. Researchers in the U.S. are studying deferiprone for treating iron overload in patients with thalassemia. Deferiprone binds with iron in the bloodstream and is removed from the body by the kidneys. Bone marrow failure patients are at risk for developing iron overload if they have had more than 20 units of packed red blood cells.

An iron chelator, a medicine used to remove excess iron from the body. Iron overload (too much iron in the body) occurs in patients who get lots of red blood cell transfusions. Deferoxamine is given by injection, under the skin (subcutaneous) or into a muscle, using a small portable pump. Deferoxamine is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to remove excess iron from the body. Deferoxamine binds with iron in the bloodstream and is removed from the body by the kidneys. Bone marrow failure patients may be at risk for developing iron overload if they have received as few as 20 units of packed red blood cells.