The recommended red cell transfusion scheme for patients with β-thalassaemia amounts to 116–232 mg iron per Kg weight on an annual basis (0.32-0.64 mg/Kg/day).

Iron accumulation is toxic to many tissues, causing heart failure, cirrhosis, liver cancer, growth retardation and endocrine abnormalities.

For monitoring of transfusion iron overload, other organ function and iron-mediated damage, surveillance of the patient for diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypoparathyroidism and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is recommended.

Furthermore, the invasive nature of liver biopsy and the associated risks of complications (which can range from pain, haemorrhage, gallbladder perforation and other morbidities through to death in approximately 1 in 10,000 cases) prevent it being used as a regular monitoring tool.

[8] Treatment for hemosiderin focuses on limiting the effects of the underlying disease leading to continued deposition.