Iron complexation with oral deferoxamine in a swine model.

A controversial therapy in the management of acute iron poisoning is the oral administration of deferoxamine which purportedly complexes unabsorbed iron, exerts protection at the cellular level, and/or enhances the renal elimination of ingested iron. To study the effects of oral deferoxamine on iron absorption, fasted male pigs weighing an average of 10 kg simulated potentially toxic iron overdoses in 12 to 24-mo-old children. A control group of 13 pigs received 60 mg elemental iron/kg via oral gavage followed by 50 ml of distilled water. Serum iron (SI) levels were obtained at 0, 1 2, 4, 6 and 8 h post-iron dosing. The study group of 10 pigs received 60 mg elemental iron/kg po followed by 10 g deferoxamine (1 g/kg). SI levels were obtained at the same intervals. There was no mortality in either group. Statistical differences in SI were noted at 6 and 8 h. Characteristic urine discoloration secondary to deferoxamine was noted at 4 h in the study group. Deferoxamine reduced some peak 51 levels but did not diminish the total absorption of iron.