Iron chelation therapy.

Although iron chelation therapy with deferoxamine (DFO) has changed life expectancy in thalassemic patients, compliance with the rigorous requirements of long-term subcutaneous DFO infusions is unsatisfactory. This problem underlines the current efforts for developing alternative, orally effective chelators to improve compliance and treatment results. For the patient with transfusional iron overload in whom results of DFO treatment are unsatisfactory, several orally effective agents are now available.