[Preventive use of iron in pregnancy--a luxury or a necessity?]. / Eisenprophylaxe in der Schwangerschaft--Luxus oder Notwendigkeit?

In an exploratory study 128 healthy gravidae were given 0.114 g of iron daily from the 14th week of pregnancy until birth. Hematologically and clinically important parameters during pregnancy, birth, and puerperium were compared with an untreated control group of 115 gravidae. Following iron prophylaxis, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and erythrocyte count were significantly higher at the time of birth; however, obstetrically significant parameters were unaffected. In view of the low incidence of anaemia during pregnancy and birth, as well as the completeness of the prenatal care system, general iron prophylaxis is unnecessary. High-risk pregnancies are an exception to this rule. The high incidence of anaemia early in puerperium justifies adequate, i.e., high-dose, oral iron therapy from the first day of the first week of confinement on wards.

[Changed intraluminal conditions in hemochromatosis]. / Veränderte intraluminale Bedingungen bei Hämochromatose.

The influence of the pancreatic secretion on the absorption of iron supposed by several authors could be ascertained by the investigation of pancreatic juice which was obtained by means of cannulation of the pancreatic duct and subsequent stimulation of the organ with secretin pancreozymin in patients with haemochromatosis. The absorption of iron increased in this disease can on the one hand be caused by a protracted secretion of hydrogen carbonate and the slower decrease of the pH-value in the upper duodenum, on the other hand by an increased secretion of pancreatic protein. The quantity of hydrogen carbonate decides on the speed of neutralisation of the formerly acid chyme, however, together with the proteins being at the disposal on the formation of absorption-promoting iron-chelates or of not bioavailable, partly polymeric iron hydroxides.

[Effect of erythropoiesis, size of iron accumulation and oxygen saturation of tissues on iron resorption]. / Ubersicht. Die Beeinflussung der Eisenresorption durch die Erythropoese, den Füllungszustand der Eisenspeicher und die Sauerstoffsättigung der Gewebe.

The volume of iron resorption is altered by numerous factors. To a wide extent, the exact regulating mechanisms have not been elucidated to the present day. The present paper deals with representing the influence of iron resorption by erythropoiesis, filling condition of iron stores and oxygen saturation of the tissue as well as with main aspects which are relevant for future research.

[Diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases in the aged]. / Diagnostik von Gastrointestinalerkrankungen im Alter.

It is a paper that surveys the multivarious diagnostic problems of gastrointestinal diseases in the aged. The particular characteristic of the acutely or chronically sick of advanced years presents itself, above all else, as a change in the organism itself, in a change of personality, and occasionally in the doctor's attitude towards his aged patients becoming different too. Relevant aspects of diagnosis in practice are of particular interest in this work.

[Sideropenia]. / Die Sideropenie.

The most frequent deficiency state in our population, the sideropenia, is caused by decreased intake, increased losses and increased need of iron. In certain groups of persons, in whom sideropenias are particularly frequent, a prevention of iron deficiency is to be recommended by the application of iron preparations, above all during puberty and gravidity, in strongly menstruating women and in persons who more than twice a year act as blood donors. The quantity of iron which is to be added in hypoferric anaemic is easily to be calculated from the existing deficit of haemoglobin; the substitution of iron mostly demands an oral therapy lasting several weeks, in more severe anaemias started by intravenous applications of iron, if necessary.