Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 31, 2025
The Caco-2 Cell Bioassay for Measurement of Food Iron Bioavailability
Published on: April 28, 2022
Monitoring of iron status in patients with heart failure
Ewa A Jankowska1,2, Michał Tkaczyszyn1,2, Marcin Drozd1,2
1Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland.
Insights
Iron deficiency (ID) is common in heart failure (HF) patients and should be screened for using readily available biomarkers like ferritin and transferrin saturation (Tsat). Early detection and treatment of ID can improve HF management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hematology
- Clinical Biochemistry
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) guidelines highlight the significance of diagnosing and managing iron deficiency (ID).
- ID affects a substantial proportion of HF patients, irrespective of anemia, necessitating specific screening.
- Bone marrow biopsy, while accurate, is impractical for routine iron status assessment in HF patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review optimal iron biomarker measurements for screening and monitoring ID in HF.
- To discuss current diagnostic criteria for ID in HF patients.
- To introduce novel methods for assessing iron status in this population.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature and clinical guidelines regarding iron deficiency in heart failure.
- Analysis of established and emerging iron biomarker assays.
- Discussion of diagnostic criteria used in clinical trials for HF and ID.
Main Results:
- Serum ferritin levels <100 µg/L or 100–299 µg/L with Tsat <20% are recommended criteria for diagnosing ID in HF.
- Circulating iron biomarkers, particularly ferritin and transferrin saturation (Tsat), offer a practical alternative to bone marrow assessment.
- Established criteria for ID diagnosis in HF have informed treatment recommendations, including intravenous iron therapy.
Conclusions:
- Iron deficiency is a distinct and prevalent issue in heart failure patients requiring dedicated screening.
- Serum ferritin and Tsat levels provide accessible and reliable markers for identifying ID in HF.
- Optimized assessment of iron status is crucial for effective management and treatment strategies in heart failure.
Abstract:
The 2016 ESC/HFA heart failure (HF) guidelines emphasize the importance of identifying and treating iron deficiency (ID) in patients with HF. Iron deficiency can occur in half or more of HF sufferers, depending on age and the phase of the disease. Iron deficiency can be a cause of anaemia, but it is also common even without anaemia, meaning that ID is a separate entity, which should be screened for within the HF population. Although assessment of iron stores in bone marrow samples is the most accurate method to investigate iron status, it is not practical in most HF patients. Levels of circulating iron biomarkers are an easily available alternative; especially, ferritin and transferrin saturation (Tsat). In patients with HF serum ferritin level <100 µg/L (regardless of Tsat value) or between 100 and 299 µg/L with Tsat <20% are considered as recommended criteria for the diagnosis of ID, criteria which have been used in the clinical trials in HF that have led to a recommendation to treat ID with intravenous iron. We discuss the optimal measures of iron biomarkers in patients with HF in order to screen and monitor iron status and introduce some novel ways to assess iron status.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:22Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies
01:30Heart Failure VII: Nursing Interventions
01:20Rheumatic Heart Disease IV: Nursing Management
01:28Mitral Regurgitation IV: Nursing Management
01:30Pulse rhythm
Conversely, an irregular pulse pattern is termed dysrhythmia, stemming from disruptions in cardiac...
01:30Heart Failure V: Medical Management