Disturbed Iron Metabolism Research Articles

A Correlative Study of the Erythrokinetics and Disturbances in Iron Metabolism Associated with the Anemia of Rheumatoid Arthritis

A Correlative Study of the Erythrokinetics and Disturbances in Iron Metabolism Associated with the Anemia of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Metabolism and requirements of iron in the human.

Disturbances of iron metabolism may lead to the development of either iron deficiency or iron excess in the body. The latter state, although comparatively rare, is of increasing clinical importance. It occurs in hemochromatosis, in transfusion hemosiderosis as a result of prolonged excessive iron therapy, and as a part of cytosiderosis, an interesting nutritional abnormality found among the Bantus in Africa. Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies and one of the most prevalent anemias the world over. In order to understand the pathogenesis and treatment of these disorders, one must know the dietary requirements for iron, how the body uses iron, and how the body normally maintains a positive balance while providing safeguards against excessive accumulations of the metal. An Outline of Iron Metabolism Iron, as an essential component of hemoglobin, myohemoglobin, the cytochromes, and other enzyme systems, is required for the important physiological functions

Studies on the Function and Metabolism of Copper

Copper is found in blood in the plasma and in the cells. Red cell copper tends to be constant. The plasma copper, on the other hand, increases under a great variety of circum-stances. Hypocupremia is rare. By far the greatest proportion of plasma copper is in the form of a copper protein corresponding to an α-globulin. A very small part of plasma copper is bound more loosely to one of several possible protein fractions and may represent copper in transit. Deficiency of copper is associated with the development of severe, hypochromic microcytic anemia, hypoferremia as well as hypocupremia, moderate leukopenia and bone marrow normoblastic hyperplasia. In copper-deficient swine fed ample amounts of iron, the total body content of iron, as measured by chemical assay of the tissues or by measurement of radioactive iron, is low as compared with normal. Copper therapy without the simultaneous administration of iron in such animals is ineffective. In swine made deficient both in copper and iron, no increase in plasma iron follows iron therapy but an increase takes place promptly when copper is given as well. These observations are interpreted as indicating that copper favors iron absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. That copper is also concerned in the mobilization of iron from the tissues is suggested by several observations. Thus, analysis of the iron content of copper-deficient animals reveals that the chief depletion of total body iron is in the hemoglobin compartment. This suggests that movement of iron from the tissues to the plasma is decreased. This view is also supported by the observation that in copper-deficient swine the administration of copper is followed by a very sharp rise in the plasma iron content. That impaired utilization of iron for hemoglobin synthesis is another factor in the disturbed iron metabolism of copper deficiency is indicated by the fact that the intravenous or intraperitoneal administration of iron fails to relieve the anemia in copper-deficient animals. Furthermore, studies with intravenously-administered radioactive iron reveal that the uptake of iron for hemoglobin synthesis is poor in copper-deficient swine.

Blood Iron and Copper in Hemochromatosis

Hemochromatosis is a rare disease of disturbed iron metabolism usually associated with diabetes and accompanied by cirrhosis of the liver, bronzed pigmentation of the skin, and by the presence of an iron-containing pigment, hemosiderin, and a non iron-reacting pigment, hemofuscin, in the skin, liver, pancreas and various other organs.Copper has been proposed as an etiological factor in hemochromatosis by Mallory and his coworkers. Mallory, Parker and Nye1 announced that it was possible to produce pigmentation and cirrhosis of the liver in rabbits and sheep by the administration of copper salts or metallic copper in powdered form. Mallory2 made a careful study of a series of cases of hemochromatosis among human beings. He pointed out 2 definite factors which he believed had a bearing on the production of the disease, one, the excessive indulgence in alcohol, and the other, occupational contact with copper. In some cases both factors operated. Mallory pointed out that samples of alcohol used in the prohibit...