Evaluation of Transferrin Level in Iron Supplementation after Partial Hepatectomy

Here we studied the effect of partial hepatectomy in patients with liver cancer (n = 48) on the level of serum iron and whether it can be corrected with iron supplementation therapy (IST; daily for 9 days). To identify whether the rapid decline in serum iron occurs only after hepatectomy, we studied this parameter in patients after pneumonectomy (n = 41). The hematocrit (HCT) and hemoglobin (HGB) levels were assayed by complete and differential blood counts, serum transferrin (TRF) and serum iron levels were measured by immunoturbidimetry and TPTZ (2,4,6-tri-(2-pyridyl)-5-triazine) method, respectively. After partial hepatectomy, the levels of serum iron and TRF in peripheral blood significantly decreased in comparison with the levels before surgery (p < 0.001). No significant elevation of serum iron and TRF was observed immediately after termination of IST, although these levels increased significantly 30 days after the onset of the therapy. Similar changes were observed in the control group in the same time points after the surgery, so IST exerted no positive effect. In contrast, both the incidence of intensive care unit admission and iron overload were higher in the IST group in comparison with the control. Serum iron sharply decreased after partial hepatectomy, which could be mainly due to the decrease in TRF. IST after hepatectomy did not improve HGB level. Thus, IST after partial hepatectomy was ineffective.