Society of Diabetic Nephropathy Prevention Journal of Nephropharmacology 2345-4202 10 1 2021 01 01 An overview of complications associated with deferoxamine therapy in thalassemia e05 e05 10.34172/npj.2021.05 EN Bijan Keikhaei https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3087-7650 Neda Farmani-Anooshe Mohammad Bahadoram https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7106-9799 Mohammad-Reza Mahmoudian-Sani Kosar Alikhani https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7151-4170 Ammar Helalinasab https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2674-3211 Journal Article 10.34172/npj.2021.05 2020 05 07 2020 06 24 Thalassemic syndromes are the most common genetic diseases in the world that are related to blood transfusion and iron overload in the body. In ß-thalassemia major multiple blood transfusions due to ineffective erythropoiesis lead to iron excess in the body. Iron chelating agent deferoxamine is used to treat chronic iron overload in patients with β-thalassemia in an attempt to reduce morbidity and mortality related to deposition of excess iron in body tissue. However, a very short half-time, the need of repetitive injections and non-specialized distribution in tissues can lead to side effects, such as ophthalmic and renal complications, neurological, skeletal changes and hearing loss, headaches, and infection too. Patients should be monitored periodically for complications. The risk of toxic effects in doses of more than 50 mg/kg/d is higher. Keeping deferoxamine therapeutic index can avoid drug overdose and side effects.