Serum Ferritin in Haemochromatosis: Changes in the Isoferritin Composition during Venesection Therapy

Abstract

The isoferritin composition of serum ferritin in 13 patients with untreated idiopathic hemeochromatosis (IHC) differed from normal in exhibiting an increase in isoferritins in the pH range 5.54-5.62. A similar change was observed in 4 patients with gross Fe overload secondary to hemeolytic anemia. During the course of venesection therapy there was a progressive rise in isoferritins of pI [isoelectric point] 5.02-5.06 relative to the more basic isoferritins. These observations were consistent with previous studies showing alterations in tissue isoferritins in untreated IHC before and after venesection therapy and they are compatible with the hypothesis that the more basic isoferritins correspond to a storage ferritin and the more acidic to a secretory ferritin. The studies provided further evidence for a possible biological role of the individual isoferritins.