[Transferrin and ferritin as laboratory indices of body iron deposits]

The aim of the study was to present the relation between serum parameters connected with iron metabolism; serum iron, transferrin and ferritin. Biochemical data in 126 patients were not compared with microscopic evaluation of erythrocytes. The tendency to decrease of serum transferrin with increased of serum ferritin was found. Significant relations between those proteins and serum iron were observed only in patients with very low ferritin values. It can be concluded that ferritin and transferrin may be considered as independent diagnostic in differential diagnosis of real (latent) and false iron depletion.