mode of action

Last reviewed 01/2018

• iron-chelating drug - chelation is in a mole to mole ratio i.e. 1 g of desferrrioxamine can chelate a maximum of 85 mg of iron

• the efficiency of chelation varies according to the state of the iron :
• all iron bound to haemosiderin and ferritin is removed, but iron is bound to transferrin is more resistant
• iron that is bound to haemoglobin, myoglobin or iron containing enzymes, e.g. cytochromes, is not removed