Iron absorption in patients with chronic uremia undergoing regular hemodialysis

Gastrointestinal iron absorption has been measured by whole body counting in 17 patients with chronic uremia undergoin regular hemodialysis. Absorption was expressed as whole body retention 14 days after oral administration of 10 muCi 59Fe together with a carrier dose of 10 mg Fe2+. The percentage incorporation in the total erythrocyte mass of administered 59Fe (erythrocyte incorporation) and absorbed 59Fe (red cell utilization) was estimated as well. Geometric mean iron absorption was 14.3 +/- 2.0 (S.D.)% and significantly higher than the value obtained in a normal control group (p less than 0.03). Geometric mean erythrocyte incorporation was 11.6 +/- 2.3 (S.D.)% and arithmetic mean red cell utilization was 84.4 +/- 6.0 (S.E.M.)%. Neither of these parameters differed from corresponding values in the control group (p greater than 0.1 and p greater than 0.2, respectively). The correlation between iron absorption and erythrocyte incorporation was highly significant (r=0.94, p less than 0.001). Patients on regular hemodialysis are subjected to considerable iron loss which should be treated by iron supplementation; oral iron administration is recommended in view of the adequate gastrointestinal absorption.