Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam (NACE) PN-RN Practice Test

For patients receiving frequent blood transfusions, which treatment may be necessary to manage iron overload?

1. Phlebotomy

2. Chelation therapy

3. Iron supplements

4. Increased dietary iron

The correct answer is: Chelation therapy

In patients receiving frequent blood transfusions, iron overload is a common concern due to the accumulation of excess iron in the body, which can lead to serious health complications. Chelation therapy is a recognized treatment for managing this condition. It involves the use of specific agents that bind to excess iron, facilitating its excretion from the body through urine or feces. Unlike phlebotomy, which involves removing blood to decrease iron levels, chelation therapy is more appropriate as it directly targets the excess iron without the need to remove blood components. Iron supplements and increased dietary iron are counterproductive in this scenario, as they would further increase the iron burden on the patient. Thus, chelation therapy serves as an effective and necessary intervention in the management of iron overload due to repeated blood transfusions.