Our body consists of a wide variety of trace elements. All of them are very important for our life. But there is one whose content determines a lot: the state of our organs, their work, blood quality and, as a result, our general condition. Oddly enough, this is about iron. It is involved in providing blood with hemoglobin, therefore, performs a vital function. Iron is not in the body as it enters. It enters into chemical reactions, is transported, binds due to other substances, in particular transferrin.
Why do we need transferrin?
When people ask: “OZHSS - what is it?”, It is important to understand what exactly this analysis defines. This is a test for the content of iron and transferrin protein in the body. This protein plays a key role in the supply of bone marrow with red blood cells, where there is a continuous process of formation of new blood cells. It is transferrin that helps to saturate them with iron. This protein is very important because it binds iron molecules and carries them through the cell membranes of the bone marrow. The process of iron saturation is necessary for the normal functioning of human systems and organs.
OZHSS - what is it?
The abbreviation for this analysis stands for "total iron binding capacity of serum." In other words, the analysis shows the concentration of transferrin in the body. But it must be remembered that when receiving the results of an OZHSS (blood test), this ability can be overestimated to 20%. This is due to the fact that if iron has saturated transferrin (more than half as a percentage), it can bind to other proteins. It should be noted here that the results of the analysis show the amount of iron that is capable and can bind to transferrin.
Why is an OZHSS analysis necessary?
Speaking about the importance of iron and transferrin in the body, it should be borne in mind that this analysis determines not only the indicators of binding of one molecule to another. OZHSS - what is it and what do the results of this analysis give us? According to the results of microbiological research, a specialist can see the dynamics - latent or unsaturated iron-binding ability. For further treatment or doctor's recommendations, all indicators are important.
Preparation for the analysis, material for him
OZhSS analysis - what is it? Knowing the answer to this question, you need to remember the basic requirements for its implementation. Blood sampling is performed strictly on an empty stomach to avoid incorrect results. To determine the required indicator, serum is taken . It can be stored in the refrigerator, if necessary, but it is better to do an analysis based on fresh biomaterial. The analysis is quick, in 3 hours. Then the results will be ready.
What is the norm of OZHSS for adults and children?
The performance of this analysis varies by age. Still need to consider the presence of pregnancy. Many women in position are frightened at the sight of the results of the analysis and ask specialists: "OZHSS is increased - what does it mean?" But do not panic prematurely, since in this condition, with a normal pregnancy, an increase in the norm of OZHSS can occur.
The norm for children is in the following limits:
At the age of 2 years, reference values are from 100 to 400 μg / dl or from 17.90 to 71.60 μmol / l.
If the baby is older than 2 years, his norm values are from 250 to 425 μg / dl or from 44.75 to 76.1 μmol / L.
How much is revealed in adult OZHSS? The norm in women has such indicators: 38.0-64.0 microns / liter. Men have reference values from 45.0 to 75.0 μm / L.
What diseases or conditions increase this indicator?
If OZHSS is raised, what does it mean? Such deviations from the norm indicate the presence of any pathological processes in the body. Now we will consider them.
Increased values may indicate the presence of hypochromic anemia - a pathology in which a color indicator of blood is evaluated. It happens with a lack of iron in the body. This pathology can be easily eliminated.
In later pregnancy, increased rates of this analysis may also be observed.
In chronic blood loss, the content of OZHSS in the blood changes. It is important to stop this process as soon as possible so that the person does not lose vitality.
Acute hepatitis also affects the life expectancy. This is due to the relationship of the indicator with the amount of bilirubin and with the functioning of the liver.
With true polycythemia, OJSS may also be increased. This is a malignant formation, a blood disease in which its viscosity increases. This is due to an increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood. But at the same time platelets and leukocytes also increase in their quantity. Due to the increase in viscosity and the amount of blood in the cells, stagnation is observed, which leads to the formation of blood clots, as well as hypoxia. In this case, blood flow suffers, the necessary substances in the right amount do not reach the body tissue.
OZHSS can also be increased with a lack of iron in food or its improper absorption by the body. In the first case, you need a special diet that can balance all processes. In the second case, specialist consultation is necessary, since several organs with their hormones and enzymes are responsible for the absorption of nutrients.
Conditions in which OZHSS is lowered
Of the pathologies in which OZHSS in the blood is less than normal, it is necessary to highlight several particularly dangerous.
- Pernicious anemia is an unsaturation of the body with iron due to a lack of vitamin B 12 . This is a dangerous disease, since several systems suffer from it at once.
- Hemolytic anemia is a pathological process in which there is a breakdown of red blood cells due to some internal mechanisms. The disease is rare, not fully understood.
- Sickle cell anemia is a disease in which the hemoglobin protein changes at a genetic level. As a result, there is a violation in the absorption of iron by the cells and tissues of the body.
- Hemochromatosis is an excessive accumulation of iron in all tissues and organs. This is a genetic disease. It can lead to serious complications, such as cirrhosis of the liver or diabetes, arthritis and some others.
- Atransferrinemia is a deficiency in the blood of transferrin protein. Due to this, iron cannot get into the necessary cells of the bone marrow, therefore, the appearance of new red blood cells is blocked. This is a rare genetic disease.
- Chronic iron poisoning occurs due to excessive consumption of iron-containing products along with drugs containing iron.
- Chronic infections can affect organs that supply red blood cells to cells in the body, and other systems.
- With nephrosis, decreased OZHSS in humans are observed. With this disease, the structure of the kidneys changes, dystrophy of the renal tubules occurs.
- With liver failure, the metabolism in the cells is disturbed, a deficiency of red blood cells appears.
- Kwashiorkor (dystrophy) is rare, but with this disease, there is also a deficiency of OZHSS in the blood. This pathology results from severe dystrophy of a child and even an adult due to a lack of protein in food. Since transferrin and hemoglobin are proteins, this process also affects their formation.
- In the presence of malignant tumors, this indicator can also be lowered.
Saturation factor calculation
Based on the results of the analysis, the doctor can calculate a value called the transferrin saturation coefficient in the body. It is calculated by the formula: 100x (serum iron: OZHSS). There are norms for the coefficient. This is a range from 16 to 54. But on average, the value is 31.2. According to this indicator, the doctor draws conclusions about the general condition of the patient. If necessary, an additional examination is prescribed, which will show exactly where the patient’s health violation occurs.