28 Jun Diabetes: Elevated Transferrin Saturation associated with Mortality

MedicalResearch.com:  Interview with Christina Ellervik

Associate Professor
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
University of Copenhagen , Denmark

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?

Answer: Early measurement of transferrin saturation leading to early intervention in patients with late-onset type 1 diabetes improves life expectancy. Excess death is mainly due to cancer-specific death.

MedicalResearch.com: Were any of the findings unexpected?

Answer:: There were no unexpected findings.

MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Answer: Early measurement of transferrin saturation is important since iron overload is potentially preventable.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

These findings were done in patients ascertained from a highly specialized clinic. Thus, a confirmation study in patients ascertained from the general population would be appropriate.

Citation:

Total Mortality by Elevated Transferrin Saturation in Patients With Diabetes

Citation:

Ellervik C, Andersen HU, Tybjærg-Hansen A, Frandsen M, Birgens H, Nordestgaard BG, Mandrup-Poulsen T.

Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Herlev Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.
Diabetes Care. 2013 Jun 25.
[Epub ahead of print]

Last Updated on June 28, 2013 by Marie Benz MD FAAD