Serum Iron Markers Research Articles

Fractured neck of femur in black patients

We explored the role of iron overload, deficiency of vitamin C and alcohol abuse in the aetiology of cervical and intertrochanteric fractures of the neck of the femur as a result of minor trauma. We studied prospectively 72 patients (45 men, 27 women). Levels of serum iron markers, vitamin C and alcohol markers were measured. Consumption of alcohol was estimated using questionnaires. The findings were compared with those of an age- and gender-matched control group. The mean age of the men was 59.5 years and of the women 66.9 years, with a male predominance. In the men, iron overload, as shown by high levels of serum ferritin (p < 0.001) and deficiency of vitamin C (p < 0.03), as well as abuse of both Western and the traditional type of alcohol, appear to be important aetiological factors. In women, alcohol abuse was also common, but iron markers and levels of vitamin C did not differ significantly from the control group.

Fractured neck of femur in black patients: a prospective study.

We explored the role of iron overload, deficiency of vitamin C and alcohol abuse in the aetiology of cervical and intertrochanteric fractures of the neck of the femur as a result of minor trauma. We studied prospectively 72 patients (45 men, 27 women). Levels of serum iron markers, vitamin C and alcohol markers were measured. Consumption of alcohol was estimated using questionnaires. The findings were compared with those of an age- and gender-matched control group. The mean age of the men was 59.5 years and of the women 66.9 years, with a male predominance. In the men, iron overload, as shown by high levels of serum ferritin (p < 0.001) and deficiency of vitamin C (p < 0.03), as well as abuse of both Western and the traditional type of alcohol, appear to be important aetiological factors. In women, alcohol abuse was also common, but iron markers and levels of vitamin C did not differ significantly from the control group.

Heterozygosity for HFE gene mutations and alcohol abuse are additive risk factors for biochemical iron overload

HETEROZYGOSITY FOR HFE GENE MUTATIONS AND ALCOHOL ABUSE ARE ADDITIVE RISK FACTORS FOR BIOCHEMICAL IRON OVERLOAD S. Moodie, L. Ang, J. Stenner, G.E. Levin, J.D Maxwell St Georges Hospital and Medical School, Tooting, London SW 17 ORE, UK. Not all patients homozygous for the C282Y mutation develop clinical haemochromatosis. A high alcohol intake may be an additional risk factor in the phenotypic expression of haemochromatosis. Aims: to investigate the relationship between HFE gene mutations (C282Y and H63D), non-fasting serum iron markers and past alcohol intake, in unselected patients with a variety of liver diseases. Methods: Genomic DNA was prepared from EDTA blood, DNA fiagments amplified by restriction fragment length analysis and HFE mutations determined in 323 patients attending a liver clinic from an ethnically mixed population. Alcohol intake was determined by a single observer, and serum iron markers using standard assays (data not available in all patients). A transferrin saturation (TFS)>60% was taken as a marker for oiochemieal iron overload'. Results: 1. A past alcohol intake of>30 units/week was associated with significantly higher serum iron markers (ferritin p 60% P value * Wild type genes, no alcohol abuse 2% (1/40) Heterozgotes, no alcohol abuse 2% (1166) p=l (NS) Wild type ~enes, alcohol abuse 11% (7/65) p=0.26 (NS) Heterozygote, alcohol abuse 24% (10/41) p=0.007 (* p values comparing with wild type genes, no alcohol abuse) Condusions: In our liver clinic population both the presence of I ~ E gene mutations and previous alcohol abuse were associated with raised serum iron markers. Heavy alcohol consumption and heterozygosity for HFE mutations appear to be additive risk factors for developing a transferrin saturation > 60%. [ c1,/o ]