Erythrokinetic studies in severe bone marrow failure of diverse etiology.

transfusion. Primary refiactcry anemia is distinguished from secondary refractory anemia in that there is no associated infection, renal or l cpatic disease, malignancy or The etiology, clinical and laboratory findings, therapy, and prognosis of acquired ap!astic anemia have been reviewed recently by Scott and coworkers2 and by Mohier and Leavell.3 Studies of iron metabolism, generally either the plasma radioiron clearance rate,2’49 uptake into circulating red cells,’ red cell iron turnover4 or in vivo measurement of iron transport have been reported.4 In general, these reports have been concerned with the evaluation of these methods and not with studying a given disease state. These studies have shown that the plasma radiciron clearance T#{189}is prolonged, with diversion of the radioiron principally to the liver and with a low uptake in circulating red cells. This paper presents the results of studies of erythropoiesis in seven patients with refractory anemia, each with different etiology or underlying disease.