Iron overload can increase the risk of life-threatening complications
People with sickle cell disease receiving transfusions had 4.1 hospital stays per year vs. 2.1 for non-transfused patients†
The death rate is 3X higher among people with sickle cell disease (7.0/100 person years) and thalassemia major (2.2/100 person years) with transfusional iron overload vs. the general US population (0.8-2.0/100 person years).†
†Based on a study of people who were either currently on or had received regular transfusion therapy and confirmed to have iron overload as defined by a liver iron concentration (LIC) of >10 mg/g dry weight or 3 serum ferritin values that averaged ≥2,000 ng/mL within the previous 12 months. 142 people with transfusion dependent thalassemia and 199 people with sickle cell disease who received regular transfusions were included in the study group and 64 people with sickle cell disease who did not receive transfusions were selected as controls. Click here to read the full study.