[Comprehensive evaluation of the immune system and various cytokines in patients with iron-deficient anemia]

The functional status of the immune condition was comprehensively evaluated in 145 patients with posthemorrhagic iron-deficient anemia (IDA) and in 40 virtually healthy subjects (controls) by immune-diagnosis tests, degrees 1 to 3. Cytokines (negative hemopoiesis regulators), i.e. interleukins 1 and 6 (IL-1 and IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and INF-gamma were investigated. A 3-phase immune-enzyme assay with horse-radish peroxidase as enzyme indicator and the "Protein Contour" test-system were made use of. Impairments of the non-specific, cellular and humoral immunities were found in IDA patients; excessive concentrations of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were observed in the same group of patients, which can explain some of the intercellular interaction mechanisms and which can be related with a negative impact exerted by interleukins on erythropoiesis in the discussed pathology. Decreasing concentrations of IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha and INF-gamma in IDA patients due to an adequate therapy by iron-containing drugs is a positive phenomenon in recovering the functional status of the immune system; it denotes that the maturation of hemoglobin-containing erythron variations and the secondary immune insufficiency are reviving.