Nontransferrin-bound serum iron in thalassemia and sickle cell patients

Nontransferrin-bound iron (NTBI) was separated from transferrin bound iron (TBI) by DEAE-Sephadex-CDS filtration. TBI is eluted with Tris-NaCl buffer, NTBI that is retained on the column is eluted with citric acid. NTBI was identified in serum from thalassemia and sickle cell patients. Normal serum contained less than 6% NTBI as compared with 15-18% in patient's sera. NTBI levels were decreased significantly after 8 hr chelation with deferoxamine (DFO).