Deferoxamine chelates non-transferrin bound iron (free iron), iron in transit between transferrin and ferritin (labile chelating iron pool), hemosiderin, and ferritin. This activity will highlight the mechanism of action, adverse reactions, interactions, and other factors such as off-label use, dosing, indications, monitoring, and pharmacokinetics.

Deferoxamine (DFOA), also known as desferrioxamine and sold under the brand name Desferal, is a medication that binds iron and aluminium. [1] It is specifically used in iron overdose, hemochromatosis either due to multiple blood transfusions or an underlying genetic condition, and aluminium toxicity in people on dialysis.

Mechanism of action. Deferoxamine works in treating iron toxicity by binding trivalent (ferric) iron (for which it has a strong affinity), forming ferrioxamine, a stable complex which is eliminated via the kidneys. 100 mg of deferoxamine is capable of binding approximately 8.5 mg of trivalent (ferric) iron.

Desferrioxamine B (DFOB) was discovered in the late 1950s as a hydroxamic acid metabolite of the soil bacterium Streptomyces pilosus. The exquisite affinity of DFOB for Fe(III) identified its potential for removing excess iron from patients with transfusion-dependent hemoglobin disorders.