SERUM FERRITIN LEVELS IN ANEMIA OF RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 4  (4) , 389-392
Abstract
Anemic patients [35] with rheumatoid arthritis were studied to determine the relationship between serum ferritin levels and body Fe status, as assessed by the grading of bone marrow Fe stores. The incidence of greatly reduced or absent marrow Fe stores was 60%. Peripheral blood smear, RBC [red blood cell] indices, serum Fe and Fe binding capacity correlated poorly with stainable marrow Fe. Serum ferritin levels only correlated approximately with Fe stores, and in Fe deficient rheumatoid patients the levels were higher than would be expected in patients with uncomplicated Fe deficiency. Reduced marrow Fe stores are common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and the serum ferritin concentration may provide a useful indication of reduced body Fe stores in these subjects, but only if a range of normal values can be established for this disease.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: