We have prospectively investigated the effect of desferrioxamine(DFO) administration (2 g i.v. after every haemodialysis session for 6 months) on the normocytic and normochromic anaemia of seven haemodialysis patients. None had either clinical or analytical data characteristic of chronic aluminium intoxication. At the end of DFO therapy, the haematocrit had increased from 20.5±2.7to 30.4±7.7(P<0.005), and the transfusional requirements decreased from 3.5±2.2 units (range 1–8 units) in the 6 months prior to DFO, to 0.7±0.9 units (range 0–2 units) during DFO administration (P<0.01). No transfusion was required during the second half of the DFO therapy period. Serum ferritin decreased from 1059±532 nmol/l (2649±1331 ng/ml) to 507±403 nmol/l (1268±1008 ng/ml) (P<0.025). Two months after DFO withdrawal the haematocrit value fell significantly to 22.2±1.6(P<0.01). DFO therapy was restarted in one patient at a lower dose (1 g i.v. after every haemodialysis session) and an increase of haematocrit from 23.8to 40.2was again observed after 3 months of treatment. The tolerance to DFO was excellent. We conclude that DFO therapy should be considered in haemodialysis patients with severe anaemia and increased blood transfusion
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