Clinical Stages of Iron Intoxication

gastrointestinal symptoms predominate (nausea and vomiting, bleeding, epigastric pain); also may be drowsy, hypotensive, metabolic acidosis, leukocytosis, hyperglycemia

I

latent period with minimal symptoms

II

neurologic toxicity (coma, seizure), cardiac toxicity (cardiovascular collapse, heart failure, pulmonary edema), coagulopathy

III

liver and/or renal toxicity, coagulopathy, metabolic acidosis

IV

late complications, including fibrosis of upper GI tract

V

I

< 6 hours

II

6 - 24 hours

III

6 - 48 hours

IV

2 - 7 days

V

> 1 week