Indicators of iron metabolism in regular donors of blood platelets and plasma

Introduction.  The high frequency of medical withdrawals from donatio ns due to a decrease in hemoglobin levels and the negative impact on the motivation and return to donation of temporarily withdrawn individuals dictates the need to study the effect of exfusion of blood and its components on iron metabolism.

Aim:  to evaluate the iron metabolism indicators  in regular donors of platelets and plasma.

Materials and methods. 99 platelet donors and 90 blood plasma donors who regularly participated in donations were examined. The comparison group consisted of 158 healthy individuals who had not previously donated blood and its components. Hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, erythrocyte count and erythrocyte indices were assessed. The concentration levels of ferritin, iron, transferrin in blood serum as well as  the values of total and unsaturated iron-binding capacity of se rum were studied, and the saturation coefficient of transferrin was calculated.

Results. In men who donated platelets, a statistically significant decrease in the red blood cells count (p = 0.001), hematocrit (p = 0.014) and ferritin concentration (p < 0.001) were found relative to those in the comparison group: 4.8×10¹²/l, 42.0 %, 28.9 ng/ml versus 5.0×10¹²/l, 44.0 %, 74.2 ng/ml respectively. In regular  donors a significant increase in the medium of hemoglobin of red blood cells was noted: 30.8 pg (p =  0.008) and 31.4 pg (p <  0.001) in men and 30.2 pg (p =  0.030) and 31.0 pg (p < 0.001) in women with platelet and plasma exfusions respectively compared to 29.4 pg in men and 29.6 pg in women who participated in donation for the first time. In plasma donors of both sexes, the values of hemoglobin and its average concentration in the erythrocyte were significantly higher than in first-time donors: 154.0 g/l (p = 0.008), 35.7 g/dl (p < 0.001) and 138.0 g/l (p < 0.001), 35.2 g/dl (p < 0.001) versus 146.0 g/l, 33.6 g/dl and 129.0 g/l, 33.8 g/dl in men and women, respectively.

Conclusion.  To prevent the development of iron deficiency in donors of blood components it is necessary to monitor the con-centration of serum ferritin and correct its reduced values by changing the donation regimen or prescribing iron-containing drugs. When selecting donors, attention should be paid to the  frequency of apheresis, especially in men who regularly donate platelets.

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