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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