Iron overload increases the risk of life-threatening complications
UNDERSTAND
the dangers of iron overload
Iron overload has been shown to increase the risk of heart failure, liver cirrhosis and other complications.
KNOW
your monitoring schedule
Sickle Cell Disease and thalassemia treatment guidelines support regular monitoring of serum ferritin, and MRI T2* of the heart and liver.
ASKyour doctor about your body iron load
Communication with your healthcare team is essential to taking an active role and learning more about iron overload.
Learn more from others living with iron overload
See Tyler’s story
See Ismäel's story
Did you know?
One unit of blood contains approximately 200 mg of iron. That’s >100x the amount absorbed from your diet daily.
A person receiving regular transfusions requiring 2 units of blood per month would receive 20 g of iron after 4 years.
That’s >7x the normal total body amount of iron.
The number of blood transfusions is a predictor of iron overload. Keep track of any transfusions you receive.