Study design: Spinal cord injury (SCI)patients with pressure sores were studied before andafter surgical intervention for ulcer healing and compared with matched SCI patients withoutsores and with patients with pressure sores and other diseases.Objective: To analyse the relationship between pressure sores and anaemia and serum proteinalteration in SCI patients. To study the pathogenesis of these alterations and suggestappropriate therapy.Setting: Spinal cord unit in Rome, Italy.Subjects: A total of 13 SCI patients with pressure sores, 13 comparable patients withoutpressure sores and four patients with other diseases and pressure sores.Main measures: Haematochemical parameters.Results: Patients with pressure sore showed significant decreased red cells, decreasedhaemoglobin and haematocrit, increased white cells and ferritin and decreased transferrinand transferrin saturation; total hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia with increased Alfa-1and gamma globulins increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were alsopresent. The alterations returned to normal after surgical intervention for pressure sore healing.Conclusions: Patients with pressure sores suffer from anaemia and serum protein alterationthat fells within the range of metabolic alteration of chronic disorders and neoplastic diseases.The alterations depend on a decreased utilisation of iron stores in the reticuloendothelial systemand on inhibition of the hepatic synthesis of albumin. With regard to treatment, iron treatmentshould be avoided because of the risk of haemochromatosis.