Iron status and haematological parameters indicate an inflammatory anaemia in acute coronary syndrome patients

Objectives: The aim of study was to explore the pattern of the changes in haematological and iron status parameters of acute coronary syndrome patients through period 1-7 day of hospital admission in order to define the type of anaemia. Methods: Forty-one patients (15 female and 26 male patients, aged 36-81years) of the Clinic for Heart Disease and Rheumatism, University Clinical Centre Sarajevo have been included in the cross-sectional study. Haematological and serum iron status parameters have measured on days 1 and 7 of hospital admission. A decrease in haemoglobin levels to <13g/dl in men and <12g/dl in women was notified as anaemia. Results: A significant reduction in red blood cells count, haemoglobin, haematocrit (p<0.01), iron, total iron binding capacity (p<0.05) and significant ferritin elevation (p<0.05) within period the 1-7 day were noted. Percent of anaemic patients on day 1 was 17.07 % with increase of number on day 7 (36.36%). Serum ferritin has been elevated with reduction of red blood cells count, mean cell volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (p<0.05); haemoglobin, haematocrit (p<0.01) at first 24 hours of admission in anaemic versus non-anaemic patients. Conclusion: Anaemic patients had significantly lower values of percent transferrin saturation (p<0.05), red blood cells count, haemoglobin, haematocrit (p<0.01) compared to non anaemic on day 7. A statistically significant negative correlations were obtained between serum iron and C-reactive protein; cardiac troponin I and total iron binding capacity (rho=-0.389, p<0.05; rho=0.331; p<0.05, respectively). Observed changes in laboratory parameters through period 1-7 day indicate inflammatory type of anaemia in acute coronary syndrome.