How To Treat And Diagnose Diamond-Blackfan Anemia

Chelation Medication

Chelation medication is a form of treatment utilized to remove certain metals from an individual's body. The drug works by binding to the compound and allowing it to be virtually eliminated from the body through the urine and stool. Chelation medication is most often used in conditions that cause an abnormal buildup of iron in the patient's body. Chelation medication is needed for Diamond-Blackfan anemia patients when they undergo blood transfusions to increase their number of red blood cells but accumulate too much iron due to the transfusion.

The human body does not have any natural mechanism to dispose of excessive iron, so the iron in donor blood can begin to accumulate to levels that are unsafe and toxic for the recipient's organs. As the iron in the blood transfusions is not able to be removed before being administered to the patient, the only way to keep iron levels acceptable with blood transfusions is the use of iron chelation medications.

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Treatment Of Side Effects

All treatments used on Diamond-Blackfan anemia patients carry potential adverse side effects, and based on these side effects, additional treatments may be necessary. Corticosteroid medication is often the first line of treatment for Diamond-Blackfan anemia, but a good portion of patients find they are unable to tolerate this type of medication. Corticosteroids can produce side effects such as weight gain, mood swings, blurry vision, increased body hair growth, easy bruising, puffy face, acne, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, stomach irritation, worsening of diabetes, water retention, cataracts, glaucoma, sleep difficulties, restlessness, nervousness, low infection resistance, and muscle weakness.

Blood transfusions can cause iron overload. When too much iron builds up in the body, it becomes toxic to vital organs like the liver and heart. Iron toxicity in these tissues can cause extensive damage and permanently compromise the function of the affected organs. Stem cell transplants for Diamond-Blackfan anemia can also produce adverse effects like graft rejection and graft-versus-host disease. An individual experiences skin inflammation, liver disease, and or diarrhea to react to the transplanted stem cells.