Abstract
The correlation between iron metabolism and HLA antigens have been investigated in 50 patients on hemodialysis. HLA type was determined by microcytotoxicity technique and serum ferritin levels were measured at megular intervals. All of these patients had been taking 50 to 210mg of oral iron daily for up to 5 years, but none were given parenteral iron or blood transfusion. Patients with hepatic dysfunction or infection were excluded from the study. Three of four patients with HLA BW-60 and two of five with HLA B-7 had high serum ferritin levels (>600ng/ml) which fluctuated when oral iron intake was stopped or restarted. Although HLA A-3 and B-14 are knows to be associated with hemochromatosis, no patients with these antigens were seen in this study. None of these patients have yet experienced symptoms or sighs of hemochromatosis. These results suggest that dialysis patients with HLA B-7 or BW-60 antigens should be carefully followed for evidence of iron overload when treated with oral iron.
