The impact of apheresis on iron stores

Abstract

Monthly plasmapheresis of volunteer donors was introduced at the Manchester Apheresis Centre late in 1985. Serum ferritin was measured at the outset and after 12 months regular donation to monitor iron stores. In a cohort of 100 male and 86 female blood donors it was found that both groups had mean serum ferritins lower than non-donor controls. A year after conversion to monthly plasma donation the female donors were found to increase mean serum ferritin almost to that of the control subjects while a much smaller rise was observed in their male counterparts.

It was concluded that plasmapheresis is conservative of iron stores, and the benefits are apparent earlier in females.