[Zinc-protoporphyrin determination in patients with sideropenic anemia and insufficient erythropoiesis]

Recenti Prog Med. 1990 Oct;81(10):658-60.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

We have measured erythrocyte Zinc-Protoporphyrin and serum ferritin in 125 subjects: 100 seemingly healthy controls, 17 with sideropenic anemia and 8 with erythropoietic insufficiency (sideropenia without anemia). Erythrocyte Zinc-Protoporphyrin was measured using Protofluor Z (Helena--Lab.) and serum ferritin was tested with immunoenzymatic technics. Patients with sideropenic anemia showed erythrocyte Zinc-Protoporphyrin values higher than controls, whereas serum ferritin was significantly lower than controls. Patients with erythropoietic insufficiency also showed erythrocyte Zinc-Protoporphyrin values higher than controls with statistical significance whereas the decrease of serum ferritin was not significant. Our study showed that Zinc-Protoporphyrin, in conjunction with serum ferritin, is a very useful test for evaluation of iron storage.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anemia, Hypochromic / blood*
  • Anemia, Hypochromic / diagnosis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Erythropoiesis*
  • Ferritins / blood
  • Humans
  • Iron Deficiencies*
  • Protoporphyrins / blood*
  • Zinc / blood*

Substances

  • Protoporphyrins
  • Ferritins
  • Zinc