ISSN:
1573-2568
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The study was performed to assess the effect of iron supplementation on hepatic iron stores in renal failure patients treated with or without hemodialysis. 105 patients with chronic renal disease were divided into three groups. Group I consisted of 26 chronic renal failure patients without any clinical or biochemical liver test disturbance. Group IIa included 7 patients treated with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) for less than 18 months, and group IIb included 7 patients who had received dialysis for more than 18 months. Group III consisted of 65 MHD patients who had been treated from 2 to 110 months. Blood was obtained from group III members for determination of serum ferritin, serum iron, red cell indices, and liver tests. Total iron load (prescribed parenteral iron and blood transfusions) was calculated in each group. Iron load was significantly greater in group II than in group I (P〈0.001), and a positive correlation existed with hepatic iron stores in both groups and with duration of dialysis in group II (P〈0.02). Hepatic iron stores were greater in group IIb than IIa (P〈0.001). Although iron load was significantly greater in group IIa than I (P〈0.001), the hepatic iron stores were not increased in group IIa. Serum ferriton levels correlated with duration of dialysis (P〈0.001) and iron load (p〈0.001). Serum iron and mean corpuscular volume correlated poorly with serum ferritin to detect iron overload. Despite the iron overload, liver tests and liver histology did not alter significantly during periods of observation as long as seven years.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01308060
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