Elevated serum iron levels following administration of cisplatinum

An increase in serum iron levels and a decrease in serum unsaturated iron binding capacity (uIBC) were noted following the administration of cisplatinum to 9 children with malignancies. The mean serum iron concentration increased from a pretreatment level of 75.7 +/- 30.5 micrograms/ml to a posttreatment level of 162.1 +/- 65.3 micrograms/ml with the first cisplatinum treatment course (p less than 0.004). The uIBC concomitantly decreased from 181.9 +/- 33.7 micrograms/ml to 86.4 +/- 44.6 micrograms/ml (p less than 0.0005). A cumulative effect was noted following subsequent courses. The levels returned to baseline values within 2-4 months following cessation of therapy in 6 children in whom follow-up data were available. It is possible that this reversal of the iron/uIBC ratio is the result of cisplatinum competition for iron binding sites to proteins.