Acute Iron Intoxication

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Abstract
Many physicians are not aware of the seriousness of poisoning with the ferrous and ferric salts of iron. At the turn of the century, before iron therapy became widespread, there were few reports of iron intoxication. However, with the increased clinical use of iron, there has been an alarming increase in the incidence of iron toxicity. One of the first of these was the report by Forbes, in 1947,1of two fatal cases of ferrous sulfate poisoning in children. In Great Britain, iron is considered the most important single cause of poisoning in children.2Cumulative experience discloses close to 50% mortality in dosage ranges from 2 to 4 gm of orally ingested iron3in children. Because of the high mortality rate associated with iron toxicity, a more effective form of treatment is required. A number of approaches have been directed toward chelation of free iron in order