The influence of circadian variations in plasma iron on the measure of plasma iron turnover.

In 92 cases studied in vivo with 59Fe, the variations of plasma iron during the study were measured. Errors in calculation of plasma iron turnover of up to 25% can be made in normosideremic patients if such variations are not taken into account. In hypersideremic patients the variations of plasma iron are low or nil; in hyposideremic patients the slow variations of plasma iron concentration do not alter the rapid slope of radio-iron removal.