Ingestion of Toxic Iron Dose With Benign Outcome

Division

North Florida

Hospital

Osceola Regional Medical Center

Document Type

Case Report

Publication Date

6-7-2023

Keywords

chelation, deferoxamine, toxicology, overdose, iron toxicity

Disciplines

Emergency Medicine

Abstract

Iron poisoning is a significant and potentially life-threatening condition that is commonly encountered in the emergency department. The severity of toxicity is based on the amount of iron ingested, and symptoms can range from mild gastrointestinal discomfort to multi-organ failure. Although current guidelines recommend therapy for patients with estimated ingestion of >60 mg/kg, the most useful laboratory test to determine toxicity is the serum iron level measured at four to six hours after ingestion. In this report, we present a case of a 28-year-old female who ingested a toxic dose of iron (88 mg/kg) but was only minimally symptomatic and managed with supportive care alone. The case highlights the importance of a high index of suspicion, careful clinical evaluation in patients with iron toxicity, and the need for individualized treatment decisions based on the patient's clinical presentation and laboratory values.

Publisher or Conference

Cureus

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