Treatment for chronic iron overload, e.g. ? transfusional haemosiderosis in patients receiving regular transfusions e.g. thalassaemia major ? primary and secondary haemochromatosis in patients in whom concomitant disorders (e.g. severe anaemia, hypoproteinaemia, renal or cardiac failure) preclude phlebotomy. Treatment for acute iron poisoning. For the diagnosis of iron storage disease and certain anaemias. Aluminium overload - In patients on maintenance dialysis for end stage renal failure where preventative measures (e.g. reverse osmosis) have failed and with proven aluminium-related bone disease and/or anaemia, dialysis encephalopathy; and for diagnosis of aluminium overload.