طفل عنده ثلاسيميا بيتا الكبرى، ينقل له دم شهرياً، والفيريتين ٣٥٠٠. ما العلاج المتوقع؟

A child with beta-thalassaemia major receives monthly transfusions and has a ferritin of 3,500. What treatment is expected?

1. Monthly IM vitamin B12
2. Stopping transfusions for several months
3. An iron chelator such as deferasirox
4. Oral iron to replace the deficit

Answer: C) An iron chelator such as deferasirox. Repeated transfusion causes iron overload in the heart, liver and endocrine glands. Treatment is chelation; oral iron is contraindicated.