Iron Metabolism in Patients with Porta-Caval Shunts

Abstract

In patients suffering from liver cirrhosis and subjected to portacaval anastomosis two to three years ago, a significant reduction of the total iron binding capacity of serum (TIBC) was observed as compared with the preoperative level. The serum iron level did not change. The intestinal iron absorption after oral load was found to be higher six months after performing the porta-caval anastomosis than before. This increase could be normalized by oral administration of pancreatic preparation both before and after the operation. Fe kinetic studies revealed signs of enhanced erythropoiesis. No signs of tissue iron accumulation could be detected by means of the Desferal test and on post-mortem examination two to three years after performing porta-caval anastomosis.

Index-words::

• Liver
• liver cirrhosis
• metabolic diseases
• iron
• portacaval anastomosis