[Serum iron level in the patients with inflammatory abdominal diseases]

In our study we investigated serum iron levels in the patients with localized or generalized peritonitis. These values were compared in group of 52 patients with acute peritonitis against group of 39 patients without inflammation within peritoneal cavity. The serum iron levels and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) was indicated in both group. Acute intraabdominal inflammation induced in all patients a state of hypoferremia. However, medium decline of iron level in patients with acute appendicitis or cholecystitis was smaller compare with that observed among the patients with generalized peritonitis caused by perforation of duodenal ulcer, perforation of large bowel diverticula or perforation of small bowel. It has been suggested that decline in iron serum level observed in those patients can be an element of metabolic response to trauma and represents a part of the innate immune system and thus constitutes the first line defence against infection. However, based on presently available knowledge we can not yet finally evaluate the clinical implication of serum iron monitoring in diagnosis and prognosis of the patients with peritonitis.