ASSESSMENT OF IRON STATUS IN ASSOCIATION WITH EXCESS ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION

Biochemical evidence of iron overload (transferrin saturation greater than 60% and/or serum ferritin concentration greater than 1000 mu g/L) was observed in 16% of patients admitted to an alcohol withdrawal uni t. No subjects in an age and sex matched control group showed such bio chemical changes. Whilst changes in serum ferritin concentration close ly correlated with aspartate aminotransferase activity and could be ex plained by alcohol induced liver damage, the increased transferrin sat uration was not similarly explained. In nine patients withdrawal of al cohol resulted in a decrease in transferrin saturation and serum ferri tin, the former due to a reduction in serum iron concentration. In pat ients with high alcohol intake biochemical measures of iron status may be misleading and a decrease in both transferrin saturation and serum ferritin concentration after withdrawal of alcohol may help to rule o ut the possible diagnosis of hereditary haemochromatosis.