Anaemia: Biochemistry Flashcards
how can iron status be tested?
functional iron= Hb
transported iron= serum transferrin
storage= serum ferritin
what is normal transferrin saturation?
20-50%
define holotransferrin
iron bound to tranferrin
what is apotransferrin?
unbound transferrin
what is transferrin?
a protein with two binding sites for iron atoms
function of transferrin
transports from donor tissues to tissues expressing transferrin receptors
donor tissues
macrophages
intestinal cells
hepatocytes
what tissues express transferrin receptors?
erythroid marrow
when is saturation of transferrin reduced?
iron deficiency
anaemia of chronic disease
when is saturation of transferrin increased?
haemochromatosis
what does ferritin store?
4000 ferric ions (Fe3+)
what is ferritin?
large intracellular protein that is spherical
why are tiny amounts of ferritin present in the serum?
reflects ferritin synthesis in response to iron status of host
what does serum ferritin also act as?
acute phase protein
what causes serum ferritin to increase (acute phase protein)
infection
malignancy
liver injury
two forms of iron
ferric (Fe3+)
ferrous (Fe2+)
is there a mechanism for iron excretion?
no