Rapid drop in serum iron concentration in myocardial infarction

Two hundred one patients admitted to the Coronary Care Unit had repeated serum iron determinations. There was a rapid (within 24 to 48 hours), pronounced decrease (mean = 64%) of the serum iron concentration in 87% of the 112 patients who had a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Seventy-nine per cent of the 89 patients who did not have an acute myocardial infarction did not have a drop in serum iron concentration. This suggests an association between myocardial infarction and rapid decrease in serum iron concentration.