Brief communications Desensitization treatment for anaphylactoid reactions to desferrioxamine in a pediatric patient with thalassemia

Desfernoxamine (DF), which is used to reduce iron overload in patients with thalassemia major, has been reported to elicit untoward reactions. A bibliographic search revealed that anaphylactoid reactions have been reported in four adult patients with thalassemia who were receiving DF for a long period and who were successfully treated by rapid desensitization. TM An anaphylactoid reaction to DF has been r eported in onty one child, who d id not receive rapid desensitization, but was treated with calcium diethylenetriami ne-pentaacetic acid. » In three cases 1-3 no immunologic studies were performed, but in the fourth case 4 a careful immunologic analysis was carried out. We report a case of anaphylactic reactions to DF in a very young child with thalassemia who underwent successful desensitization. We also report results of an immunologic study of the case.