[Iron and infection. I. Iron and "nutritional immunity". The leukocytic endogenous mediator]

With reference to the studies carried out in the Center of Hematology, Bucharest, the authors review recent publications concerning the correlation between iron metabolism and infection, and emphasize the importance of iron deficiency within the framework of nutrition-infection-immunity relationship, and the role of iron in antinfectious defence. Among the metabolic responses of the host organism to infection is the early redistribution of essential oligoelements, known as "nutritional immunity", which is discussed in detail. Data refering to the leukocytic endogenous mediator are given.