Serum ferritin and bone marrow iron in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

In 20 patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), serum ferritin concentration (radioimmunoassay) was compared with bone marrow iron stores (graded semiquantitatively). A close correlation between the two parameters was found. Patients with decreased iron stores (8/20) had serum ferritin concentrations below 70 ng/mL; those with normal or increased iron stores had concentrations above 96 ng/mL. It is concluded that serum ferritin concentrations adequately reflect bone marrow iron stores and are useful as a guide to iron-replacement therapy in patients undergoing CAPD.