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Repeat whole blood donors with a ferritin level of 30 μg/L or less show functional iron depletion
Author(s) -
Dijkstra Angelique,
van den Hurk Katja,
Bilo Henk J. G.,
Slingerland Robbert J.,
Vos Michel J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1111/trf.14935
Subject(s) - ferritin , hemoglobin , mean corpuscular volume , erythropoiesis , mean corpuscular hemoglobin , reticulocyte , whole blood , blood donor , medicine , anemia , immunology , chemistry , physiology , biochemistry , messenger rna , gene
BACKGROUND Whole blood donors are screened for iron depletion through hemoglobin measurement alone or in combination with ferritin. Ferritin measurement gives the advantage of earlier detection of iron depletion. In a previous study we identified a ferritin level of 30 μg/L or less as a possible indicator of suboptimal erythropoiesis. In this study, erythropoietic parameters were measured to determine if a ferritin level of 30 μg/L or less is indicative of iron‐deficient erythropoiesis in repeat whole blood donors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Twenty‐one healthy male repeat whole blood donors were divided into two groups according to their predonation ferritin values: 30 μg/L or less (low‐ferritin group) and greater than 30 μg/L (normal‐ferritin group). Ferritin and erythropoietic parameters were measured before whole blood donation and weekly in the 8 weeks after donation. RESULTS A significantly lower value was found for hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), reticulocytes, and reticulocyte hemoglobin content on at least three of the nine time points in the low‐ferritin group compared to the normal‐ferritin group (p < 0.05). Of these parameters, MCV and reticulocyte hemoglobin content were significantly lower before donation as well as during all 8 weeks following donation (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Based on the lower values of the erythropoietic parameters in the low‐ferritin group, it can be concluded that repeat whole blood donors with a ferritin value of 30 μg/L or less have iron‐deficient erythropoiesis and therefore require a longer donation interval than the current 56 days.