Adjunct in the treatment of acute iron intoxication. To promote iron excretion in chronic iron overload secondary to multiple transfusions frequently used in the treatment of thalassemia or other chronic anemias. Long-term therapy can slow the accumulation of hepatic iron and retard or eliminate the progression of hepatic fibrosis. Can delay and/or prevent the development of cardiac disease induced by iron overload in thalassemia and may also improve left ventricular function in asymptomatic patients with thalassemia who have subclinical cardiac dysfunction (with long-term SubQ therapy). May improve cardiac function in symptomatic cardiac disease (with high dosages of the drug). Long-term therapy in thalassemia may improve survival and, in the absence of extensive preexisting tissue alterations, may prevent and/or delay the development of other abnormalities associated with the disease such as diabetes mellitus.