Influence of iron status in the response to the deferoxamine test.

The study presented here was carried out to evaluate the possible relationship between serum iron and iron transferrin saturation with the response to the deferoxamine test in 86 chronic renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis. The deferoxamine test was performed as a diagnostic tool for aluminum intoxication. Basal serum aluminum levels correlated with: (1) serum aluminum levels after the infusion of deferoxamine (r = 0.45; P 40 micrograms/L and DAI > 150 micrograms/L). The study presented here suggests that patients who have indicators of iron repletion would tend to have lower increases in serum aluminum levels after the challenge with deferoxamine and presumably a higher incidence of false negative results with the deferoxamine test. These findings indicate that iron measurements must be always taken into account when interpreting the deferoxamine test.