Serum ferritin and erythrocyte 2,3-DPG during quantitated phlebotomy and iron treatment.
Serum  ferritin and erythrocyte 2,3-DPG levels were followed  in 3 healthy males who were phlebotomized to iron depletion and a moderate anaemia. In 2 of the subjects, the  expected rise in DPG levels was seen but not in the third, in spite of a Hb concentration of 95 g/1. Serum ferritin levels were found to reflect changes  in iron stores, and subnormal serum ferritin indicated depleted iron stores. However, there was no correlation between pre-phlebotomy ferritin levels and calculated iron stores. The conclusion is that no fixed ratio can be established between serum ferritin and iron stores. A single ferritin value within the normal range does not tell  how large iron stores a person has. Changes in an individual's iron stores can, however, be detected by repeated ferritin estimations.
D000328:Adult; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001815:Bloodletting; D004163:Diphosphoglyceric Acids / Q000097:blood*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors
D004163:Diphosphoglyceric Acids; D006454:Hemoglobins; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron