title: A pilot iron substitution programme in female blood donors with iron deficiency without anaemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Blood donation can contribute to iron deficiency. The possibly resulting anaemia importantly affects donor return rate. The determination of serum ferritin levels revealed iron deficiency in many non-anaemic premenopausal female blood donors at our Institution. We started an iron substitution programme targeting this donor group to prevent anaemia and enhance donor retain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women aged≤50 with haemoglobin levels adequate for donation and serum ferritin≤10 ng/ml were offered iron supplementation. Substitution lasted 16 weeks and the donation interval was extended. History collection including iron deficiency-related symptoms, whole blood count and serum ferritin determination was performed at baseline and after 2 and 6 months. Data were recorded prospectively and compared with those of 108 female controls with iron deficiency not receiving iron substitution (retrospective data).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 116 participating subjects, 60% completed the programme. Significant results were serum ferritin increase (from a mean value of 7.12 to 25.2 ng/ml), resolution of prostration, fatigue, sleep disturbances, tension in the neck, hair loss and nail breakage. No case of anaemia occurred. Sixty per cent of the women completed the programme and donated blood again.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Targeted iron substitution prevents the development of anaemia and enhances donation return in premenopausal female blood donors with iron deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Centre, Swiss Red Cross, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pittori
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buser
authors.forename: U E
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Gasser
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sigle
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Job
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rüesch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tichelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Infanti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017697:Premenopause; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron