Serum ferritin as a guide for iron stores in chronic hemodialysis patients.

The serum ferritin (SF) level was measured in 58 chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients (46 living and 12 deceased subjects) and compared to bone marrow iron concentrations, cytological bone marrow iron stores (BMIS), and histological BMIS. In the 12 deceased subjects, liver iron concentrations, histological liver parenchymal, and Kupffer cell iron stores were also studied. The mean SF level of the whole group was 302 +/- 251 ng/ml (mean +/- SD). No close relationship was found between transferrin saturation and cytological BMIS. A high correlation was found between SF level and cytological BMIS (Spearman rank rs = 0.74). In the deceased CHD patients a close correlation was observed between histological parenchymal liver iron stores and histological Kupffer cell iron stores, but not between liver and bone marrow iron stores. A good correlation was found between SF levels and liver iron concentrations. It is concluded that in CHD patients SF levels are higher than in healthy controls, even in the absence of iron therapy (except in the form of blood transfusions); in some of these patients iron is disproportionately stored in the bone marrow and the liver. Although the level of BMIS cannot be estimated unequivocally from an SF measurement in every CHD patient, SF levels provide useful estimates of BMIS.

Thallium intoxication treated with combined hemoperfusion-hemodialysis.

A 32-year-old woman who ingested thallium sulfate was treated with combined hemoperfusion-hemodialysis. Classical therapy, including Prussian Blue, was also administered. The clearance rate of the hemoperfusion and hemodialysis were 139 and 47 mL/min, respectively. The efficiencies of these different methods were compared with each other and with the classical methods. It was concluded that hemoperfusion was the most efficient technique in extracting thallium sulfate. The combined hemoperfusion-hemodialysis procedure is proposed for the treatment of severe intoxications with thallium sulfate.

Correlation between postmortem ethanol levels in the blood and the testicle. A computerized study of 633 determinations.

This study emphasizes the value of the presence of ethanol in the testicle. It proves particularly useful in cases where blood and urine are no more present in the body. In 633 cases where blood or urine were still available, a highly positive correlation between the blood, alcohol and the amount of alcohol present in the testicle could be demonstrated, thus confirming the research carried out in the Department of Legal Medicine as far back as 1943. An attempt is further made to assess the possible influence of such factors as putrefaction, submersion or post-traumatic anemia on this correlation.