relationship between ferritin and anemia parameters in females with iron deficiency anemia and inflammation

Objective: Iron deficiency is the leading cause of anemia worldwide, and measuring serum ferritin concentration is recognized as the gold standard test for iron deficiency anemia. In inflammation, however, hyperferritinemia occurs without evidence of iron overload. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between ferritin and other anemia parameters in female patients with a combination of iron deficiency anemia and inflammation

Methods: A total of 314 girls and women with anemia [Hb <12.5 g/dL] were selected from users of primary health care centers in Shif port. The participants were divided into a study and a control group. The study group included females with anemia and inflammation, and the control group included anemia without inflammation. Complete blood count, serum ferritin, iron and hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin concentration, red cell distribution width, transferrin saturation, total iron binding capacity and C-reactive protein were measured by autoanalyzer and ELISA kits. The relationship between ferritin and hemostatic markers was estimated with Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression models

Results: There was a significant positive correlation between serum ferritin and serum iron concentration, hemoglobin, hematocrit and mean cell hemoglobin concentration before and after adjustment for age in both groups. A negative association between serum ferritin level and total iron binding capacity was also found in both groups

Conclusions: We conclude that ferritin is a reliable noninvasive standard test to diagnose iron status in females with iron deficiency anemia even in the context of inflammation

[Community-acquired pneumonia: a comparison between elderly and nonelderly patients]

Community-acquired pneumonia could be a life-threatening condition especially in elderly patients. The factors influencing the outcome in elderly patients are thought to be different from those in young adults. We compared the clinical and paraclinical profiles in elderly and nonelderly patients with community-acquired pneumonias. In this cross-sectional study, seventy nine patients who were hospitalized with community acquired pneumonia over a period of one year were included. Patients' medical records were reviewed; and data related to comorbid conditions, signs and symptoms, laboratory and radiographic findings were gathered using a checklist. The clinical features, laboratory parameters and complications from pneumonia were almost similar in 41 elderly [group I, age

[Prevalence of lung involvement due to rheumatoid arthritis based on clinical, radiographic and pulmonary functions test]

Background: Pulmonary involvement is a common and serious complication of rheumatoid arthritis. This cross sectional study sought to determine the prevalence of pulmonary disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis on the basis of history, physical examination, chest X-ray and PFT

Materials and Methods: 103 patients [81 Women, 22 Men] fulfilling the ACR [American College of Rheumatology] criteria for RA [Rheumatoid arthritis] were consecutively included in a cross sectional study. Detailed medical [including respiratory symptoms and the disease activity symptoms] and drug and occupational histories and smoking were obtained. All patients underwent a complete pulmonary and rheumatologic examination and conventional chest radiography. All patients underwent PFT that comprised spirometry and body plethysmography. Results for PFTs were expressed as percentage of predicted values for each individual adjusted for age, sex, and height

Results: On the basis of history: Their mean age was 43.3 +/- 2.6 years [range: 17-74] and the mean duration of the disease was 69.3 +/- 15.6 months. Rheumatoid factor was positive in% 61.2. No patients were 0.5Pack/Year smoker in whole life. Prevalence of pulmonary involvement based on radiographic and pulmonary function test detected in 41 patients [39/7%]. The most frequent respiratory clinical finding was dyspnea [33%], [NYHA grade I in 17.5% and NYHA grade II in 15.5%], Cough [with or without sputum] in 13.6 %, Crackle was the most sign in pulmonary examination [5.8%]. Chest X-ray was abnormal in 13.3 % that the most common finding in this study was reticulonodular pattern in 20 patients [19.4 %], and pleural effusion detected in 7 patients [6.7%]. PFT was abnormal in 30 patients [29.1 %]. A significant decrease of FEF 25%-75% below 1.64 SD. Small airway involvements was the most abnormal finding of PFT. No relation between rheumatoid arthritis disease activity [ESR>30, Morning stiffness>30', Anemia, thrombocytosis] with pulmonary disease was seen

Conclusion: This study suggests a high prevalence of lung involvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore we recommend a complete investigation in patients with RA with any respiratory symptom