Studies on the Capacity of Serum to Bind Iron. A contribution to our knowledge of the regulation mechanism of serum iron

Abstract

Summary.By development of colour by means of dipyridyl in serum after addition of ferrous iron we have found that serum can contain about 300 γ % iron in a firm binding. The authors propose the term saturation limit of serum for iron for this figure. The braking effect discussed by WALDENSTRÖM after intravenous injections of iron seems to be due to the fact that the iron which is not firmly bound rapidly leaves the blood stream. The toxic effect at intravenous administration of iron sets in in connection with the transgression of the saturation limit when the surplus iron leaves the blood stream. In untreated cases of pernicious anaemia the iron content of serum is often so high that its capacity to keep the iron in firmly bound form is completely used up. These cases also react toxically even on 1–2 mg iron intravenously.