Iron balance with transfusion regimes in SCD and chelation doses required to balance iron loading
The rate of iron loading varies considerably with the transfusion modality used. The loading rate with simple transfusion is higher when the target %HbS is lower (Kim et al12 ). Automated exchange can be adjusted to achieve minimal iron loading. Iron excretion as a function of dose has been calculated for DFO and DFX chelation therapy (Cohen et al11 ) so that appropriate doses to maintain iron balance can be shown. Larger doses are required to decrease SF or LIC.