[Determination of serum Fe in prostatic pathology]

Abstract

We have determined serum Fe concentrations in 75 patients whose post-surgical anatomo-pathological diagnostic was: 25 cases with prostate benign hyperplasia, 25 cases where besides hyperplasia there was also an associated chronic prostatitis and 25 cases of moderately differentiated prostatic adenocarcinoma stage D according to the Jewett classification. No patient had received prior medication nor had associated metabolic pathology. Serum Fe concentration was significantly decreased in the cases with prostatic adenocarcinoma. The methodology used for these determinations is presented, discussing the possible pathogenic hypothesis explaining this finding together with the clinical consequences.