Humoral markers of iron status in patients on maintenance hemodialysis
Valenti, M.; Bergia, R.; Caramello, E.; Dionisio, P.; Nerva, F.; Graziola, M.; Lanza, E.; Bajardi, P.
Minerva Medica 77(36): 1605-1610
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-4806 PMID: 3763031 Document Number: 282295
In forty-nine patients on regular dialysis treatment (RDT) we evaluated following parameters for a period of twenty-four months: serum ferritin (SF), transferrin, T.I.B.C. percental saturation (Fe/TIBC%), haemoglobin (Hb). Twenty-five patients had received more than 5 g intra-venous iron or several blood transfusions, before the beginning of the study, while the other twenty four patients had never received iron treatment nor transfusions. Serum ferritin and Fe/TIBC% proved to be a good estimate of iron stores in RDT patients. In fact both parameters showed significantly higher levels in iron loaded patients than in never treated patients. Furthermore, in patients who no longer received iron loads during the study period, both SF and Fe/TIBC% showed a significant decrease, without changes in haematologic values. This study demonstrated that oral ferritinic iron (40 mg/day for 6 months) doesn't increase either SF and Fe/TIBC% levels, or modifies haematologic values.