Toxic effects associated with the administration of deferoxamine in the premature baboon with hyaline membrane disease
R. A. deLemos, R. J. Roberts, J. J. Coalson, J. A. deLemos, D. M. Null Jr and D. R. Gerstmann
Department of Physiology and Medicine, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, Tex 78284.
We hypothesized that administration of the iron chelator deferoxamine would
inhibit iron-catalyzed free radical generation and lessen the severity of
oxygen-induced pulmonary injury. To evaluate its efficacy and safety in
premature infants, we administered deferoxamine by intravenous infusion to
five premature baboons with hyaline membrane disease supported with
conventional ventilation and 100% oxygen for 6 days. Seven animals served
as controls. Deferoxamine treatment was initiated at 10 mg/kg per hour but,
after the precipitous death of the first animal, was progressively reduced
to 1.25 mg/kg per hour in the other animals. Four of five
deferoxamine-treated baboons developed cardiovascular collapse and all five
died by 42 hours. Five of the seven control animals survived the 6-day
experimental period. Since cardiovascular toxic effects have not previously
been reported, these findings suggest unique vulnerability of the immature
cardiovascular system to iron chelation.
