Transfusion medicine B1891 EFFECT OF BLOOD DONATIONS ON IRON STORES OF BLOOD DONORS

Background:A blood donor looses approximately about 200 to 250 mg of iron per donation which corresponds to a loss of four to ten percent of total iron. Loss of iron replaces quickly by mobilizing iron stores, followed by filling the iron stores if diet is adequate. The situation, however, is different for donors with high frequency of blood donations. For men who donating six or more times in the last two years; serum ferritin level has began to decrease within time. In the absence of iron replacement this can lead to emptying of iron stores. We undertook this study to evaluate the effect of frequent blood donations on iron stores of regular male blood donors in Turkey. Aims: To evaluate the effect of frequent blood donations on iron stores of blood donors in Turkey. Methods: This study was planned prospectively with randomization of blood donors into two groups. The first group was ‘frequent donation group’ that comprised of donors who had donated more than three times in the last year and more than 6 times in the last two years. The second group was ‘infrequent donation group’ that comprised of donors who was donated one or two times in the last year. Serum hemogram, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, ferritin, peripheral blood smear and monthly income of all cases were evaluated. Results: 169 cases were recruited to study. 52/169 (30%) of cases were classified in ‘frequent donation group’. Any of the cases in this group was not deferred from blood donation because of low haemoglobin level. The other 117 were classified in ‘infrequent donation group’. There was no statistically significant differences in hemoglobin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, mean corpuscular volume, peripheral blood smear findings and monthly income between two groups. Mean serum ferritin level was 45 ng/ml in frequent donation group and 55 ng/ml in infrequent donation group and these results were statistically significant (P<0,05). Summary / Conclusion: Being a frequent blood donor is a condition that could lead to the development of iron deficiency in blood donors. Monitoring ferritin levels yearly for frequent blood donors and education of the donors about iron supplementation and diets are highly recommended.