As iron continues to build up in the body, complications happen more often.
Transfused sickle cell disease patients with iron overload were compared‡ to those without iron overload in a review of clinical trials in 2018 which showed that sickle cell patients with iron overload had
higher rates of:
Mortality
(64% vs. 5%)
Organ failure
(71% vs. 19%)
Pain episodes
(64% vs. 38%)
‡ N=35; defined as serum ferritin levels >1500 ng/mL and transferrin saturation >50%.
Monitor renal function
Kidney complications are common in the general population of patients with sickle cell disease. Ensure regular monitoring of both renal and hepatic function for transfused patients.