Studies on iron stores built up by an iron-poly (sorbitol-gluconic acid) complex, Ferastral, in man. Preliminary report.

The characteristics of iron stores built up by a new parenteral iron-poly (sorbitol-gluconic acid) complex, Ferastral, have been studied in iron depleted non-anemic blood donors. The results from studies on the first three subjects are presented. The availability of this storage iron for the chelator, desferrioxamine, was found to be in the same range as normal iron stores. The pattern of distribution in reticulo-endothelial cells of the bone marrow could not be differentiated from natural storage iron. No visible iron could be detected in liver parenchymal cells 40 days after iron administration. The results from these preliminary studies suggests normal bioavailability of this material for Hb-synthesis. The absence of iron in liver parenchymal cells might be explained by the short time interval between the iron administration and the fine needle aspiration biopsy.