The results are presented of the chemical and histochemical assessment of the hepatic iron stores in two babies stillborn after treatment of iron deficiency in the mother by a total dose infusion of iron dextran. The levels of storage iron in the liver determined by chemical analysis were much higher than in six other stillborn babies whose mothers had not been so treated. This difference was not demonstrable by a histochemical method.
References
1.
BelilesRPPalmerAK. The effect of massive transplacental iron loading. Toxicology1975; 5: 147–58.
2.
SprentJ. Foetoplacental iron studies. Aust. N Z J Obstet & Gynaecol1967; 7: Suppl 1, 1–36.
3.
PathakUNWoodJKSorhaindoBA. Anaemia of pregnancy treated with single intravenous dose of iron-dextran. Obstet & Gynaecol1967; 29: 500–7.
4.
CookHC. Manual of histological demonstration techniques. London: Butterworth & Co (Publishers) Ltd, 1974; 71–2.
5.
KaldorI. Studies on intermediary iron metabolism XII: Measurement of the iron derived from water soluble and water insoluble non-haem compounds (ferritin and haemosiderin iron) in liver and spleenAust J Exp Biol1958; 36: 173–82.
6.
ToverudKU. Investigations on the iron store of newborn infants. Acta Paediatr1935; 17: Suppl I, 136–40.
7.
BrückmanGZondekSG. Iron, copper and manganese in human organs at various ages. Biochem J1939; 33: 1845–57.
8.
GalbraithGMPGalbraithRMFaulkWP. Immunological studies of transferrin and transferrin receptors of human placental trophoblasts. Placenta1980; 1: 33–46.
9.
McKayDGHertigATAdamsECHistochemical observations on the human placenta. Obstet & Gynaecol1958; 12: 1–36.
10.
WöhlerF. Intermediary iron metabolism of the placenta with special consideration of the transport of therapeutically administered iron through this organ. Curr Ther Res1964; 6: 464–82.
11.
KaufmanNWhileyJC. A study of storage iron in the placental and foetal tissues of the rat. Br J Haematol1972; 22: 287–97.
12.
BaumingerBBDukeABWaltersGThe effect of total dose infusion of iron dextran on the storage iron content of the human placenta. J Clin Pathol in press.
13.
BarryMSherlockS. Measurement of liver-iron concentration in needle-biopsy specimens. Lancet1971: i: 100–3.