Inappropriate parenteral iron intake in children on long-term parenteral nutrition can be responsible for iron overload. This study was carried out to monitor iron status changes when iron parenteral intake was stopped in case of iron overload. Seven children with serum ferritin concentrations above 800 ng/ml (6 with documented liver iron overload) were prospectively studied after total discontinuation of parenteral iron intake and without chelation therapy. Iron status was assessed, by means of ferritin and iron plasma concentrations, 8-15 months (T(1)) and 24-30 months (T(2)) after withdrawal of parenteral iron. Ferritin and iron concentrations declined at T(1), or T(2) in all but two children. At T(2) ferritin and iron concentrations were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than before iron parenteral discontinuation with a yearly reduction of 22 +/- 15% and 15 +/- 16%, respectively, for ferritin concentration and iron concentration. This fall in serum ferritin concentration is comparable to thalassemic subjects after bone marrow transplantation. The total withdrawal of parenteral iron intake improves iron status in children with iron overload. Nevertheless, iron overload related parenteral nutrition should be avoided by lowering iron intake in case of long-term total parenteral nutrition and by careful monitoring.