Zinc-protoporphyrin determination in patients with sideropenic anemia and insufficient erythropoiesis
D'Angelo, G.; Giardini, C.; Zanco, M.D.
Recenti Progressi in Medicina 81(10): 658-660
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0034-1193 PMID: 2291011 Document Number: 351105
We have measured erythrocyte Zinc-Protoporphyrin and serum ferritin in 125 subjects: 100 seemingly healthy controls, 17 with sideropenic anemia and 8 with erythropoietic insufficiency (sideropenia without anemia). Erythrocyte Zinc-Protoporphyrin was measured using Protofluor Z (Helena--Lab.) and serum ferritin was tested with immunoenzymatic technics. Patients with sideropenic anemia showed erythrocyte Zinc-Protoporphyrin values higher than controls, whereas serum ferritin was significantly lower than controls. Patients with erythropoietic insufficiency also showed erythrocyte Zinc-Protoporphyrin values higher than controls with statistical significance whereas the decrease of serum ferritin was not significant. Our study showed that Zinc-Protoporphyrin, in conjunction with serum ferritin, is a very useful test for evaluation of iron storage.