Table 1.

Guidelines for use of serum ferritin to monitor iron balance

1	Measure serum ferritin every or every other transfusion visit for transfused patients and quarterly for nontransfused patients.
2	Calculate median values over 3–6 month intervals for trends
3	Monitor and prevent ascorbate deficiency
4	Anchor each serum ferritin trends to LIC assessments at a minimum of every two years.
5	Repeat MRI if trends in serum ferritin are incongruent with reported patient compliance or other clinical assessments