Medicine
Volume 35, Issue 12 , Pages 624-625, December 2007

Iron

D Nicholas Bateman MD FRCP FRCPE FBPharmacolS FBTS is Professor in Clinical Toxicology and Director of the National Poisons Information Service (Edinburgh Unit) at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UK. He is the Past-President of the European Association of Poison Centres and Clinical Toxicologists. Competing interests: none declared

Abstract 

Iron poisoning causes its metabolic effects in proportion to the concentrations of free iron. Toxicity is therefore related to dose ingested. The amount of iron in different salts varies, and iron concentrations may rise and fall, making plasma concentrations difficult to interpret in acute poisoning. Clinical features include severe gastrointestinal irritation, cardiovascular collapse and direct organ damage to liver and kidneys. Unconsciousness occurs in severe cases. The chelating agent desferrioxamine is the antidote used, although there remains uncertainty about the optimal dose in individual patients.

Keywords: chelating agents, desferrioxamine, iron poisoning

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PII: S1357-3039(07)00310-6

doi:10.1016/j.mpmed.2007.09.003

Medicine
Volume 35, Issue 12 , Pages 624-625, December 2007

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