Hemosiderosis in hemodialysis patients. An autopsy study of 50 cases.

Abstract

The distribution of stainable iron stores was investigated in various organs of 50 hemodialysis patients with chronic renal disease. Massive iron deposits were found in the liver and spleen. Among 18 patients with severe hepatosplenic siderosis, iron deposits were abundant in the adrenal glands, lymph nodes, and lungs and were sparse in the heart, kidneys, and pancreas. There was an absence or scarcity of stainable iron in bone marrow of 19 pats. In five of these marrow-iron-depleted patients, serum concentrations of ferritin were high. In long-term hemodialysis patients, a variety of factors make massive iron overloads of various organs a likely occurrence, severe hepatosplenic siderosis may occur in marrow-iron-depleted patients, and serum ferritin levels in this setting may not always accurately reflect the status of marrow iron store.

• Authors: M Ali, A O Fayemi, R Rigolosi, J Frascino, T Marsden, D Malcolm
• Journal: JAMA (JAMA) Vol. 244 Issue 4 Pg. 343-5 (Jul 25 1980) ISSN: 0098-7484 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7392125 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Ferritins
• Iron

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Anemia, Hypochromic (prevention & control)
• Autopsy
• Bone Marrow (metabolism)
• Female
• Ferritins (blood)
• Hemosiderosis (etiology)
• Humans
• Intestinal Absorption
• Iron (metabolism, therapeutic use)
• Kidney Failure, Chronic (therapy)
• Liver (metabolism)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Renal Dialysis (adverse effects)
• Spleen (metabolism)