[Iron metabolism in patients with different variants of pulmonary tuberculosis]

Prior to treatment, 48 patients with different forms of pulmonary tuberculosis were examined. Serum iron concentrations, total iron-binding capacity of the serum (STIBC), its unsaturated iron-binding capacity (SUSIB), serum transferrin iron saturation coefficient (SC), total protein in the serum, red blood cells, hemoglobin, colour index were determined. All the parameters under study were in the normal range in patients with a favourable involutional course of pulmonary tuberculosis. In patients with acutely progressive pulmonary tuberculosis, serum iron levels, STIBC, SC were drastically decreased, while SUSIB was in the normal range. All this was attended by phenomena of hypochromic anemia. The pattern of the found changes leads to the conclusion that patients with acutely progressive tuberculosis develop iron-redistributing anemia caused by the changes in the amount and quality of transferrin, iron binding during free radical processes and mobilization of the antioxidant defense system rather than true iron deficiency.