Studies in the Development of a Screening Test of Iron Storage Disease

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The urinary Fe excretion was studied in 20 males and 11 females following a single injection of Desferrioxamin (DFO). It was found that the 6 hr. urinary Fe excretion following intramuscular injection of 0.5 g of DFO was 0.25 to 0.3 mg. The response of 23 siblings of a family 3 of whom had hemochromatosis was studied. The response of the family as a whole was in the high normal range. The application of the "Desferal test" is discussed and the results of studies in various pathological conditions is reviewed. It is suggested that the Desferal test may be of value in the diagnosis of Fe storage diseases and possibly Fe depletion states.