Table 1

Studies describing iron metabolism in intensive care unit (ICU) patients
Study
 Time of measurement
 Iron (μmol/l)
 Ferritin (μg/l)
 Transferrin saturation (%)
 Transferrin (g/l)
Reference value with inflammation [8,10]
< 9
 30–200
 10–20
 < 3
Surgical ICU patients [18]
 Week 1
 4.1
 652
 12.8
 1.7

Week 2
 4.1
 1234
 11.9
 1.5

Week 3
 4.6
 1536
 13.4
 1.4

Week 4
 6.9
 1367
 18.7
 1.4
Medical ICU patients ≥ 4 days [3]
 Days 1–2
 4.8a
 471a,b
 16a
 1.4a,c

Days 6–8
 6.0a
 767a,b
 15a
 1.3a,c

Days 13–15
 6.5a
 795a,b
 22a
 1.3a,c

Days 20–25
 8.1a
 774a,b
 24a
 1.4a,c

Days 31–40
 7.8a
 723a,b
 20a
 1.5a,c
Medical and surgical ICU patients [19]
 Days 2–3
 4.9d
 727b
 16
 Not reported
General ICU patients [21]




     Functional iron deficiency
 Day 1
 Not reported
 342
 Not reported
 Not reported
     No functional iron deficiency
 Day 1
 Not reported
 292
 Not reported
 Not reported
Multiple mechanical trauma patients [20]
 Day 1
 9.5
 832
 Not reported
 1.7c

Day 2
 3.9
 547
 Not reported
 1.7c

Day 4
 3.4
 466
 Not reported
 1.5c

Day 6
 4.0
 530
 Not reported
 1.6c

Day 9
 5.0
 842
 Not reported
 1.6c

Data presented as mean values, except a median values. b Ferritin (ng/ml or μg/ml). c Transferrin (mg/dl) multiplied by 0.01 to convert to transferrin (g/l). d Iron (μg/dl) multiplied by 0.1791 to convert to iron (μmol/l).

Darveau et al. Critical Care 2004 8:356   doi:10.1186/cc2862