Changes in serum ferritin and other 'acute phase' proteins following major surgery.

We have measured ferritin concentrations in healthy women, and ferritin, C-reactive protein, iron and total iron-binding capacity in patients undergoing hysterectomy or major gastrointestinal surgery. Pre-operative serum ferritin concentrations in patients awaiting hysterectomy were significantly lower than those for patients awaiting gastrointestinal surgery and also lower than those for healthy women of similar age. Healthy women aged between 51 and 60 years had significantly higher ferritin levels than women aged 35-50 years. All patients studied showed large increases in serum ferritin and C-reactive protein concentrations after surgery and approximately similar decreases in iron and in total iron-binding capacity.