Iron metabolism, anemias : diagnosis and therapy : novel concepts in the anemias of renal and rheumatoid disease

in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. Disturbances of iron metabolism, particularly iron deficiency, are among the most commonly overlooked or misinterpreted diseases. This is due to the fact that the determination of transport iron in serum or plasma, which used to be the test in conventional diagnosis, does not allow a representative estimate of the body's total iron reserves. A proper estimate was formerly possible only by the costly and invasive determination of storage iron in the bone marrow, however, sensitive, well-standardized immuno-chemical methods for the precise determination of the iron storage protein ferritin in plasma are now available. Since the secretion of this protein correctly reflects the iron stores in the majority of cases, these methods permit fast and reliable diagnosis, particularly of iron deficiency conditions. The fact that iron deficiency is so common and is usually simple to treat ought to be well known in the medical world. Even non-iron-determined causes of anemia can now be identified rapidly by highly sensitive, well-standardized immuno-chemical methods. This book is intended to contribute to a better understanding of the main pathophysiological foundations and diagnostic principles Front Matter....Pages I-X Introduction....Pages 1-2 Physiological Principles of Iron Metabolism and Erythropoiesis....Pages 3-23 Disturbances of Iron Metabolism/Disturbances of Erythropoiesis and Hemolysis....Pages 24-52 Diagnosis of Disturbances of Iron Metabolism Disturbances of Erythropoiesis....Pages 53-104 Therapy of Anemias....Pages 105-126 Methods....Pages 127-179 Back Matter....Pages 180-206 Disturbances of iron metabolism are commonly overlooked or misinterpreted. Even non-iron-determined causes of anaemia can be identified by well-standardized immuno-chemical methods. This book aims to further understanding of pathophysiological foundations and diagnostic principles.