Iron is essential for most forms of life, including humans. On the other hand, iron is also potentially toxic. Therefore, the control of iron metabolism and maintenance of iron hemostasis is an crucial part of many aspects of human health and disease. Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most common diseases worldwide, but there are also anemias associated with chronic diseases, and other acquired or hereditary defects. Understanding the control of iron metabolism is furthermore important for understanding diseases of iron overload, like hemochromatosis. This booklet is designed for physicians, clinical lab personnel and medical students. It gives an overview about the principles of regulation of iron metabolism and erythropoiesis. In addition, the various disturbances of iron metabolism and the associated clinical findings are described. Special focus lies on the differential diagnosis of the disorders, and the approaches of therapy. Finally, a comprehensive schedule of tests is included available for the determination of iron metabolism-related parameters in serum/plasma and blood, with indication of methodologies applied and reference ranges.

Iron is essential for most forms of life, including humans. On the other hand, iron is also potentially toxic. Therefore, the control of iron metabolism and maintenance of iron hemostasis is an crucial part of many aspects of human health and disease. Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most common diseases worldwide, but there are also anemias associated with chronic diseases, and other acquired or hereditary defects. Understanding the control of iron metabolism is furthermore important for understanding diseases of iron overload, like hemochromatosis. This booklet is designed for physicians, clinical lab personnel and medical students. It gives an overview about the principles of regulation of iron metabolism and erythropoiesis. In addition, the various disturbances of iron metabolism and the associated clinical findings are described. Special focus lies on the differential diagnosis of the disorders, and the approaches of therapy. Finally, a comprehensive schedule of tests is included available for the determination of iron metabolism-related parameters in serum/plasma and blood, with indication of methodologies applied and reference ranges.

Eisenstoffwechselstörungen, insbesondere der Eisenmangel, zählen zu den am häufigsten übersehenen oder fehlgedeuteten Erkrankungen. Dies liegt insbesondere daran, daß die in der konventionellen Diagnostik angewandte Bestimmung des Transporteisens im Serum bzw. Plasma wegen der kurzfristigen Schwankungen keine repräsentative Abschätzung der Gesamtkörpereisenreserven erlaubt. War dies früher nur durch die aufwendige und invasive Speichereisenbestimmung im Knochenmark möglich, so gestatten heute empfindliche, gut standardisierte immunchemische Verfahren eine präzise Bestimmung des Eisenspeicherproteins Ferritin im Plasma. Da dessen Sekretion in der Mehrzahl der Fälle die Depoteisenreserven korrekt wiederspiegelt, ermöglicht dies eine schnelle und sichere Diagnose, insbesondere von Eisenmangelzuständen. Wegen der Häufigkeit des Eisenmangels und der meist einfachen Therapie sollte diese Erkenntnis zum medizinischen Allgemeingut gehören. Das vorliegende Buch trägt zu einem besseren Verständnis der wesentlichen pathophysiologischen Grundlagen und diagnostischen Prinzipien bei.

Disturbances of iron metabolism, particularly iron deficiency, are among the most commonly overlooked or misinterpreted diseases. This is due to the fact that the determination of transport iron in serum or plasma, which used to be the test in conventional diagnosis, does not allow a representative estimate of the body’s total iron reserves. A proper estimate was formerly possible only by the costly and invasive determination of storage iron in the bone marrow, however, sensitive, well-standardized immuno-chemical methods for the precise determination of the iron storage protein ferritin in plasma are now available. Since the secretion of this protein correctly reflects the iron stores in the majority of cases, these methods permit fast and reliable diagnosis, particularly of iron deficiency conditions. The fact that iron deficiency is so common and is usually simple to treat ought to be well known in the medical world.Even non-iron-determined causes of anemia can now be identified rapidly by highly sensitive, well standardized immuno-chemical methods. This book is intended to contribute to a better understanding of the main pathophysiological foundations and diagnostic principles.

Disturbances of iron metabolism, particularly iron deficiency, are among the most commonly overlooked or misinterpreted diseases. This is due to the fact that the determination of transport iron in serum or plasma, which used to be the test in conventional diagnosis, does not allow a representative estimate of the body’s total iron reserves. A proper estimate was formerly possible only by the costly and invasive determination of storage iron in the bone marrow, however, sensitive, well-standardized immuno-chemical methods for the precise determination of the iron storage protein ferritin in plasma are now available. Since the secretion of this protein correctly reflects the iron stores in the majority of cases, these methods permit fast and reliable diagnosis, particularly of iron deficiency conditions. The fact that iron deficiency is so common and is usually simple to treat ought to be well known in the medical world.Even non-iron-determined causes of anemia can now be identified rapidly by highly sensitive, well standardized immuno-chemical methods. This book is intended to contribute to a better understanding of the main pathophysiological foundations and diagnostic principles.

Iron is essential for most forms of life, including humans. On the other hand, iron is also potentially toxic. Therefore, the control of iron metabolism and maintenance of iron hemostasis is an crucial part of many aspects of human health and disease. Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most common diseases worldwide, but there are also anemias associated with chronic diseases, and other acquired or hereditary defects. Understanding the control of iron metabolism is furthermore important for understanding diseases of iron overload, like hemochromatosis. This booklet is designed for physicians, clinical lab personnel and medical students. It gives an overview about the principles of regulation of iron metabolism and erythropoiesis. In addition, the various disturbances of iron metabolism and the associated clinical findings are described. Special focus lies on the differential diagnosis of the disorders, and the approaches of therapy. Finally, a comprehensive schedule of tests is included available for the determination of iron metabolism-related parameters in serum/plasma and blood, with indication of methodologies applied and reference ranges.

Iron is essential for most forms of life, including humans. On the other hand, iron is also potentially toxic. Therefore, the control of iron metabolism and maintenance of iron hemostasis is an crucial part of many aspects of human health and disease. Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most common diseases worldwide, but there are also anemias associated with chronic diseases, and other acquired or hereditary defects. Understanding the control of iron metabolism is furthermore important for understanding diseases of iron overload, like hemochromatosis. This booklet is designed for physicians, clinical lab personnel and medical students. It gives an overview about the principles of regulation of iron metabolism and erythropoiesis. In addition, the various disturbances of iron metabolism and the associated clinical findings are described. Special focus lies on the differential diagnosis of the disorders, and the approaches of therapy. Finally, a comprehensive schedule of tests is included available for the determination of iron metabolism-related parameters in serum/plasma and blood, with indication of methodologies applied and reference ranges.

Eisenstoffwechselstörungen, insbesondere der Eisenmangel, zählen zu den am häufigsten übersehenen oder fehlgedeuteten Erkrankungen. Dies liegt insbesondere daran, daß die in der konventionellen Diagnostik angewandte Bestimmung des Transporteisens im Serum bzw. Plasma wegen der kurzfristigen Schwankungen keine repräsentative Abschätzung der Gesamtkörpereisenreserven erlaubt. War dies früher nur durch die aufwendige und invasive Speichereisenbestimmung im Knochenmark möglich, so gestatten heute empfindliche, gut standardisierte immunchemische Verfahren eine präzise Bestimmung des Eisenspeicherproteins Ferritin im Plasma. Da dessen Sekretion in der Mehrzahl der Fälle die Depoteisenreserven korrekt wiederspiegelt, ermöglicht dies eine schnelle und sichere Diagnose, insbesondere von Eisenmangelzuständen. Wegen der Häufigkeit des Eisenmangels und der meist einfachen Therapie sollte diese Erkenntnis zum medizinischen Allgemeingut gehören. Das vorliegende Buch trägt zu einem besseren Verständnis der wesentlichen pathophysiologischen Grundlagen und diagnostischen Prinzipien bei.

Disturbances of iron metabolism, particularly iron deficiency, are among the most commonly overlooked or misinterpreted diseases. This is due to the fact that the determination of transport iron in serum or plasma, which used to be the test in conventional diagnosis, does not allow a representative estimate of the body’s total iron reserves. A proper estimate was formerly possible only by the costly and invasive determination of storage iron in the bone marrow, however, sensitive, well-standardized immuno-chemical methods for the precise determination of the iron storage protein ferritin in plasma are now available. Since the secretion of this protein correctly reflects the iron stores in the majority of cases, these methods permit fast and reliable diagnosis, particularly of iron deficiency conditions. The fact that iron deficiency is so common and is usually simple to treat ought to be well known in the medical world.Even non-iron-determined causes of anemia can now be identified rapidly by highly sensitive, well standardized immuno-chemical methods. This book is intended to contribute to a better understanding of the main pathophysiological foundations and diagnostic principles.

Disturbances of iron metabolism, particularly iron deficiency, are among the most commonly overlooked or misinterpreted diseases. This is due to the fact that the determination of transport iron in serum or plasma, which used to be the test in conventional diagnosis, does not allow a representative estimate of the body’s total iron reserves. A proper estimate was formerly possible only by the costly and invasive determination of storage iron in the bone marrow, however, sensitive, well-standardized immuno-chemical methods for the precise determination of the iron storage protein ferritin in plasma are now available. Since the secretion of this protein correctly reflects the iron stores in the majority of cases, these methods permit fast and reliable diagnosis, particularly of iron deficiency conditions. The fact that iron deficiency is so common and is usually simple to treat ought to be well known in the medical world.Even non-iron-determined causes of anemia can now be identified rapidly by highly sensitive, well standardized immuno-chemical methods. This book is intended to contribute to a better understanding of the main pathophysiological foundations and diagnostic principles.