Alpha-tocopherol and cardiac toxicity of iron.
At the onset of disturbances of cardiac rhythm after a 7th injection of iron sorbitol to a patient with severe malabsorption syndrome an extremely low level of alpha-tocopherol in serum--0.04 mg per 100 ml serum--was observed. The clinical manifestations are interpreted as a possible consequence of the depletion of the vitamin, a natural scavenger of free radicals. The possible importance of alpha-tocopherol in preventing the toxic effect of iron on the apparently very sensitive myocardium after parenteral iron to patients with severe malabsorption syndrome is discussed.
D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002951:Citrates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019343:Citric Acid; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000009:adverse effects; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*
D002951:Citrates; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005290:Ferric Compounds; C008170:citric acid, iron, sorbitol drug combination; D014810:Vitamin E; D019343:Citric Acid; D013012:Sorbitol; D007501:Iron