[Iron deficiency in infection]

Abstract

As a rule bacterial infection is followed by acute serum iron reduction; impaired inflow of iron from storage sites into the transport pool represents the main cause. As a consequence of this sort of iron redistribution iron becomes short for red cell production; this is one cause for the development of anemia. The biological significance of hyposideremia may be presumed from the bacteriostatic potential of iron free transferrin, preventing adequate iron acquisition by multiplying microorganisms. Preliminary animal experiments support this concept and suggest that it might also be applied to true iron deficiency.