Iron research has yielded exciting insights into the understanding of normal iron homeostasis. Information has been gained on the molecular basis of aberrant iron handling in hereditary disorders and the pathophysiology of iron overload. Such development, and the evolution of improved strategies of iron chelating therapy require better understanding of the pathophysiology of iron toxicity and the mechanism of action of iron chelating drugs. This volume highlights the impact of long term iron chelating therapy using deferoxamine or the new, but controversial oral iron chelator deferiprone based on experience gained by multicenter trails, with special emphasis on survival, morbidity and drug toxicity; it reviews the development of the improved orally effective chelators suitable for clinical use in the near future and examines novel strategies of iron chelating treatment for the control of cell proliferation in malignant disease or malaria.
