All issues > Volume 29(7); 1986

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1986;29(7):730-739. Published online July 31, 1986.

A Comparative Study on Serum Ferritin Concentrations in Anemic Patients Various Diseases.

Sei Woo Chung¹, Myung Ik Lee¹, Don Hee Ahn¹, Keun Chan Sohn¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, National Medical Center，Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Ferritin is a high-molecular weight iron compound consisting of a protein shell, which has normally been considered as a storage compound from which iron is readily mobilized either into the transferrin-bound plasma pool or for intracellular heme synthesis. For comparison of serum ferritin concentrations in anemic patients of various diseases, we measured serum ferritin concentrations, serum iron concentrations, total iron binding capacity and transferrin saturation in 100 cases (30 normal controls, 18 patients with anemia of infectious diseases, 13 patients with iron deficiency anemia, 8 patients with anemia of renal diseases,8 patients with anemia of malignancy, 7 patients with aplastic anemia, 6 patients with hemolytic anemia and 10 patients with anemia of other diseases). Serum ferritin was measured by a two-site immunoradiometric assay employing Ramco FER-IRON kit. The following results were obtained: 1) Mean value of serum ferritin level in normal controls above 6 months and under 15 years of age was 73.8±23.2 ng/ml(male 77.0±28.7, female: 70.6±16. 5 ng/ml). 2) In 18 patients with anemia of infectious diseases, mean serum ferritin level was 60.7 ±84.0 ng/ml but serum iron level(33.8±17.0 ug/dl), transferrin saturation(13.5±9.8%) and total iron binding capacity(254.1±121.9 ug/dl) were significantly lower than those of normal control(p<0.005, P<0.025, P<0.005). 3) In 13 patients with iron deficiency anemia, mean serum ferritin level was 29.1±29.1 ng/ml, which was significantly lower than that of normal control(p<0.005). And serum iron level (mean 34.4±32.0 ug/dl) and transferrin saturation(mean 9.2土 10.8%) were also significantly lower than those of normal control(p<0.005) but total iron binding capacity (mean 434.5±79.1 ug/dl) was significantly increased(p<0.005). 4) In 8 patients with anemia of renal diseases, mean serum ferritin level was 74.1±28.2 ng/ml with wide range. 5) In 8 patients with anemia of malignancy, mean serum ferritin level was 258. 5±148.9 ng/ml, which was significantly increased(p<0.005), but serum iron level (mean 60.9±40.1 ug/dl) was significantly lower than that of normal control(p<0.025). 6) In 7 patients with aplastic anemia, mean serum ferritin level was 148.5±6.9 ng/ml, which was significantly lower than that of normal control(p<0.005). But serum iron level (mean 239.0±29.5 ug/dl) and transferrin saturation(mean 66.4±10.8%) were significantlyincreased (p<0. 005). 7) Correlation between serum ferritin and various hematologic measurements revealed a consistently high correlation only with the total iron binding capacity, so the highest reciprocal correlation between serum ferritin and total iron binding capacity was noted in patients with iron deficiency anemia(r= —0.74). According to the above statements, serum ferritin is a useful survey tool for the initial assessment and prospective monitoring of iron stores in normal population and also is a valuable for differential diagnosis in anemic patients of various diseases.

Keywords :Serum ferritin; Two; site immunoradiometric assay; Anemia.