[The significance of serum ferritin determination for the evaluation of preventive iron treatment of anemia in premature infants].

The blood values of 36 premature babies were examined for 12 months from the 8th week onwards and the values of the iron metabolism such as serum iron, iron binding capacity, iron saturation and serum ferritin were estimated. All the babies were given 2-3 mg/kg BW/daily Ferro-iron in the form of a ferrous sulphatemucoproteose. When the prophylaxis was begun, the serum ferritin was, as expected in the upper range limit (84 micrograms/l). One year later, it was, at 78 micrograms/l, almost same. These figures demonstrate, that with the beginning of iron prophylaxis in the 8th week of life, the iron reserve in premature babies was kept within the norm.