The Significance of Low Serum Iron in Tropical Pyomyositis

The serum iron (SI), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TS) and serum ferritin (SF) levels were studied in 16 Nigerian patients with tropical pyomyositis (TP) and in 16 control subjects (CS). It was observed that the mean SI (mol/L) and TS (%) values were significantly lower in TP than in CS (SI: 7.32±2.33, 14.41±3.02, p<0.02; TS: 14.24±4.03, 24.34±8.53, p<0.02). There were, however, no significant differences in the TIBC (mol/L) and SF (g/L) values between TP and CS (TIBC: 51.4±9.6, 56.2±8.5, p>0.5; SF: 269±108, 239±113, p>0.5). The low serum iron level in tropical pyomyositis is therefore considered as reflection of sequestration into the reticuloendothelial system rather than an absolute iron deficiency. It seems unlikely that iron deficiency is a contributory factor in the aetiology of tropical pyomyositis.