Studies on Radioimmunoassay of Serum Ferritin and its Clinical Implication in Diseases of the Digestive Organs

Abstract

Serum ferritin was quantitated by means of double antibody radioimmunoassay and 2-site immunoradiometric assay using paper disc method and a diagnostic implication of serum ferritin in patients with digestive diseases was evaluated.
A double antibody method was initially selected for the radioimmunoassay of serum ferritin. Standard curve showed satisfactory linearity from 10ng/ml to 1000ng/ml. Further sensitivity and reproducibility were obtained by 2-site immunoradiometric assay. The mean value of serum ferritin was diverged according to sex, 95.7ng/ml in the male and 42.8ng/ml in the female. In iron deficiency anemia, the serum ferritin concentration was less than 20ng/ml. In patients with hepatoma and pancreatic carcinoma, high ferritin levels were commonly observed. On the other hand, in patients with carcinomas of the stomach and colon, the serum ferritin concentration was mostly within normal range. In non-malignant diseases, serum ferritin levels showed generally low values except acute hepatitis and acute pancreatitis.