Reversible atransferrinemia in a patient with chronic enteropathy: is transferrin mandatory for iron transport?

Abstract

Herein, we report the case of a 42-year-old woman, hospitalized in a French tertiary hospital for a relapse of a chronic enteropathy, who was found on admission to have no detectable serum transferrin. Surprisingly, she only exhibited mild anaemia. This atransferrinemia persisted for two months throughout her hospitalization, during which her haemoglobin concentration remained broadly stable. Based on her clinical history and evolution, we concluded to an acquired atransferrinemia secondary to chronic undernutrition, inflammation and liver failure. We discuss the investigations performed in this patient, and hypotheses regarding the relative stability of her haemoglobin concentration despite the absence of detectable transferrin.

• Authors: Alexandre Raynor, Carmen Stefanescu, Arnaud Bruneel, Hervé Puy, Katell Peoc'h, Hana Manceau
• Journal: Biochemia medica (Biochem Med (Zagreb)) Vol. 33 Issue 1 Pg. 010801 (Feb 15 2023) ISSN: 1846-7482 [Electronic] Croatia
• PMID: 36627980 (Publication Type: Case Reports)
• Copyright: Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine.

Chemical References

• Transferrin
• Iron
• Hemoglobins

Topics

• Humans
• Female
• Adult
• Transferrin
• Metal Metabolism, Inborn Errors
• Iron
• Hemoglobins