Tinnitus in a patient with beta-thalassaemia intermedia on long-term treatment with desferrioxamine

Abstract

A woman with β-thalassaemia intermedia, and iron overload following many years' treatment with oral iron, was treated with subcutaneous desferrioxamine. During the course of this treatment she developed tinnitus, which was considered to be a rare complication of the use of thischelating agent. Themechanism of this effect is not understood. © 1981 The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine.