Comparative study of transferrin measurement and total iron binding capacity
Celada, A.; Busset, R.; Gutiérrez, J.; Martínez, J.L.; Herreros, V.
Sangre 26(6): 1073-1082
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-4355 PMID: 7342334 Document Number: 168862
In a series of specimens obtained from 51 patients in hemodialysis, 16 in peritoneal dialysis, 64 pregnant women, 64 cord blood samples and 102 normal subjects, total Fe binding capacity (TIBC), i.e., the functional measure of transferrin, was compared with the immunological assay of transferrin, i.e., the amount of protein. TIBC was higher than transferrin in all groups. The correlation between both methods was significant; the saturation indices derived from each of them produced correlation quotients > 0.90 in all instances. The correlation between TIBC, transferrin or saturation index, and the hematological or FE metabolism data was similar in hemodialysis patients and in pregnant women. When transferrin was saturated in vitro with progressively increasing amounts of Fe, it was found that while TIBC saturates to .apprx. 100%, transferrin clearly overflows this figure, which suggest that its estimation is below reality. On in vivo tests performed in rabbits, TIBC was almost totally saturated after iron sulfate injection. TIBC and transferrin quantification correlated well in the groups studied, although the tests performed by saturation of the protein suggest that TIBC values are more realistic than those attained through the immunological measurement of transferrin.