Prevalence of latent iron deficiency in patients with chronic S. mansoni infection

The iron status of 103 male patients aged 19 to 48 years with chronic S. mansoni infection was evaluated before treatment. Fasting blood samples were analyzed for serum ferritin and iron, percent transferrin saturation, hemoglobin and other hematological indices. Anemia based on hemoglobin level of less than 13 gm/dl was found in 52 patients. Of the remaining 51 nonanemic patients 10% would be classified as iron deficient by serum iron, 31% by percent transferrin saturation and 83% by serum ferritin. Schistosomal liver involvement in some of these patients did not cause any significant difference in the mean serum ferritin levels between this group of patients and those with no liver involvement. These findings suggest that serum ferritin is a valid and sensitive test for detecting iron deficiency in these patients and that chronic S. mansoni infection is associated with high incidence of latent iron deficiency.