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Urinary iron in patients with sickle cell anamia
The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine
|July 1, 1975
Summary
Patients with sickle cell anemia show high urinary iron excretion, indicating increased intravascular hemolysis. This iron loss is not linked to iron overload but reflects red blood cell breakdown.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Nephrology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Sickle cell anemia involves chronic hemolysis and potential iron dysregulation.
- Urinary iron excretion is a potential indicator of iron metabolism and hemolysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify urinary iron excretion in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients.
- To investigate the relationship between urinary iron and hemolysis, disease severity, and iron status.
Main Methods:
- Urinary iron concentration measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
- Daily iron excretion calculated from urine concentration and volume.
- Comparison between SCD patients and normal subjects.
Main Results:
- Abnormally high urinary iron excretion observed in most SCD patients (SS, SC, CC, S-thalassemia).
- Sickle cell trait patients had normal iron excretion.
- Urinary iron levels correlated with hyperhemolytic crisis, suggesting a link to intravascular hemolysis.
- No correlation found with age, transfusion history, serum iron, or painful crisis.
Conclusions:
- Urinary iron excretion is a sensitive marker of intravascular hemolysis in SCD.
- Elevated urinary iron in SCD is primarily due to hemolysis, not iron overload.
- Further research into iron kinetics in SCD is warranted.