Measurement of Iron Stores Using Deferoxamine

Abstract

Deferoxamine (DFO)-induced urinary Fe excretion was evaluated as a test for the measurement of Fe stores. Iron stores were assessed both by phlebotomy and histologic techniques or by histologic methods alone. A close linear correlation was found between DFO-provoked sideruria and Fe mobil-izable by phlebotomy. Post-DFO urinary Fe excretion greater than 2200 [mu]g/24 hr. indicated Fe excess with a high degree of probability. After DFO, sideruria less than 600 [mu]g/24 hr. frequently signaled Fe deficiency. Most subjects with normal Fe stores fell between these 2 extremes. Several findings, however, indicated that the amount of Fe excreted in urine after DFO was not related entirely to Fe store size. The Fe stores of 11 normal men were measured by phlebotomy and were found to average 687 mg with a range of 130 to 1900 mg.