Desferrioxamine

Desferrioxamine (pronounced as des-fer-ri-ox-a-mine) is a chelating agent used primarily to treat iron overload in patients with conditions like thalassemia and hemochromatosis.

Etymology

The term 'Desferrioxamine' is derived from its chemical structure. 'Des' refers to the absence of, 'ferri' is the Latin term for iron, and 'oxamine' refers to its oxime functional group.

Usage

Desferrioxamine is used in the treatment of acute iron intoxication and chronic iron overload due to multiple blood transfusions. It works by binding to excess iron in the body, which is then excreted in urine and feces.

Related Terms

Chelation Therapy: A medical procedure that involves the administration of chelating agents to remove heavy metals from the body.
Iron Overload: A medical condition that occurs when too much iron builds up in the body.
Thalassemia: A blood disorder passed down through families (inherited) in which the body makes an abnormal form or inadequate amount of hemoglobin.
Hemochromatosis: A disorder that causes the body to absorb too much iron from the diet. The excess iron is stored in the body's tissues and organs, particularly the skin, heart, liver, pancreas, and joints.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Desferrioxamine
Wikipedia's article - Desferrioxamine

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Desferrioxamine