[A role of serum ferritin estimations in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients]

The aim of our studies was to establish an aspect of pathophysiology that is specially indicated by serum ferritin level in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. In 50 CAPD patients serum ferritin level was related to other serum indicators of iron status as well as serum level of C-reactive protein (CRP), peripheral blood morphology (including RBC indices), serum lipid profile, anthropometrical and laboratory parameters of nutritional status, parameters of dialysis adequacy and dietary food intake. In examined CAPD patients serum ferritin concentration was elevated (median 448, range 25-5334 ng/ml). Statistically significant correlations between serum ferritin level and other examined parameters included positive correlation with CRP (r = +0.389) and negative correlation with transferrin (r = -0.462), RBC (r = -0.441), haemoglobin (r = -0.412), haematocrit (r = -0.483), total cholesterol (r = -0.580) and LDL-cholesterol concentration (r = -0.442). There were also positive correlations with daily effluent volume and dietary food intake. Our studies show that in CAPD patients an elevated serum ferritin level is an indicator of inflammatory status, protein malnutrition, and inadequate erythropoiesis, despite normal or nearly normal mean levels of other serum iron parameters. On the other hand, serum ferritin level increases with greater food intake.