Misplaced iron in kwashiorkor.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the presence of radical promoting iron (non-protein-bound or loosely bound or free iron) in the plasma of children with kwashiorkor.


METHODS
The bleomycin assay was employed for the quantitation of free or loosely bound iron.


METHODS
The Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, Tertiary Care.


METHODS
Fifty children on admission with kwashiorkor: six with marasmus and twelve healthy well-nourished controls.


RESULTS
Non-protein-bound iron was detected in the plasma of 58% of children with kwashiorkor but was absent in marasmic and healthy well-nourished children.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of radical promoting iron supports the hypothesis that a free radical injury probably plays a role in the pathogenesis of kwashiorkor and its removal may improve mortality.
Dempster
W S
WS
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
Sive
A A
AA
Rosseau
S
S
Malan
H
H
Heese
H V
HV
D001761:Bleomycin; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D007732:Kwashiorkor / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D011485:Protein Binding; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis
D001761:Bleomycin; D007501:Iron