Reddish discoloration of urine due to excretion of the iron-deferiprone complex has been reported in Deferiprone (DFP, Ferriprox™, Kelfer™, L1, CP20) treated patients.
It increases urinary iron excretion, which mainly depends on the iron load of patients and the dose of the drug. It decreases serum ferritin levels and reduces the liver and heart iron content in the majority of chronically transfused iron loaded patients at doses >80 mg/kg/day. It is metabolised to a glucuronide conjugate and cleared through the urine in the metabolised and a non-metabolised form, usually of a 3 deferiprone: I iron complex, which gives the characteristic red colour urine.