Studies in acute iron poisoning. I. Desferrioxamine in the treatment of acute iron poisoning: clinical observations, experimental studies, and theoretical considerations

1. Thirteen children who had ingested iron salts were treated with a combination of enteral and parenteral Desferrioxamine. Although all recovered, a review of the literature indicates that criteria are not available to determine whether the treatment was responsible for their survival. 2. Three of 9 dogs recovered when treated with enteral and intravenous [See Table XII. in Source Pdf.] Desferrioxamine, which was started 1 hour after the administration of a L D.100 dose of ferrous sulfate. 3. Desferrioxamine does not prevent the absorption of the quantities of iron involved in acute iron poisoning. 4. Further studies are essential to: (a) establish criteria for determining the quantity of Desferrioxamine to use in individual cases so that maximum effectiveness will be achieved without producing serious toxicity, and (b) to determine whether toxicity from the iron-desferrioxamine complex can be prevented.