Effectiveness of erythrocytapheresis in idiopathic hemochromatosis. Report of 14 cases.
Thirteen men and one woman (mean age 48.8 yr +/- 6.9, range 36-63) with idiopathic hemochromatosis were treated by erythrocytapheresis. Iron depletion followed 9.60 months treatment (median 24), with 21-203 erythrocytaphereses (mean 93 +/- 61) and total iron removal of 4.2-40.6 g (mean 19 +/- 11.9). Trasferrin saturation decreased from 90 +/- 8.7% to 17 +/- 10.6% and serum ferritin from 3164 micrograms/L +/- 1488 to 60.5 micrograms/L +/- 77.5, and liver iron content normalized in all cases. Initial serum ferritin in the patients who were iron-depleted at 18 months (50%, cumulative percentage) was significantly lower than in those still iron loaded at that time (2280 micrograms/L +/- 940 vs 4049 micrograms/L +/- 1444, p less than 0.02). Clinical improvement was noted in all cases with about a 30% decrease in insulin requirement in most diabetics. Thus erythrocytapheresis appears to be effective and safe in obtaining iron depletion in idiopathic hemochromatosis.
Conte
D
D
Institute of Medical Pathology III, University of Milan, Italy.
Mandelli
C
C
Cesana
M
M
Ferrini
R
R
Marconi
M
M
Bianchi
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000379:methods; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism
D014168:Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins