Abstract
Serum ferritin levels (F levels) were studied on 21 cases of untreated acute leukemia in whom seven had been transfused on admission and 14 had not. 78.6% of initial F levels in untransfused patients and 100% of those in transfused ones were above normal range. The mean average of the latter was significantly higher than that of the former (p<0.001). Patients with high percentage of leukemia cells in the initial bone marrow study frequently but not necessarily showed high F levels. No statistically significant correlation was found between percentages of leukemia cells in bone marrow and F levels, while serum LDH activities significantly correlated with the former (r=0.72, p<0.001). Cumulative units of blood transfusion were found to have significant correlation with F levels of patients in remission (r=0.68, p<0.02) and of those who were treated without chemotherapy (r=0.85, p<0.01). F levels of nine cases in remission without abnormality in liver function tests were apparently higher than those on admission, while LDH activities were lower in remission. When patients developed hepatitis, F levels behaved almost in parallel with GOT activities. On the basis of these findings the clinical significance and limited usefulness of F levels in patients with acute leukemia were discussed.
