Treatment of chronic iron overload e.g.: Transfusional haemosiderosis especially in thalassaemia major sideroblastic anaemia autoimmune haemolytic anaemia and other chronic anaemias Idiopathic (primary) haemochromatosis in patients in whom concomitant disorders ( e.g. severe anaemia cardiac disease hypoproteinaemia) preclude phlebotomy Iron overload associated with porphyria cutanea tarda. Treatment of acute iron poisoning. Treatment of chronic aluminium overload in patients with terminal renal failure (under maintenance dialysis) with: aluminium-related bone disease and/or dialysis encephalopathy and/or aluminium-related anaemia. Diagnosis of iron overload.