A member asked:

If i have sickle cell disease; a slightly enlarged liver and a dangerously high iron count what are my options of getting back to normal sickle cell c?

4 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Dr. Donald Alves answered

Specializes in Emergency Medicine

See Hematologist: If normal hematocrit, could consider phlebotomy (drawing off blood) to lower iron, but w/sickle, "nl" -crit not likely, and might trigger crisis. Other option is chelation or possibly dialysis-like procedure, but those need evaluated by and done by hematologist if iron level truly "dangerously high.".

Answered 4/25/2013

5.2k views

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Dr. Craig MacArthur answered

Specializes in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

Chelation: If you have iron overload, then you need to remove iron from your body. One approach is removal of blood (phlebotomy); however most sickle cell patients are too anemic for this approach. The other approach is to chelate with drugs, either Exjade orally or Desferal subcutaneously.

Answered 6/25/2014

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