The natural history of iron deficiency induced by phlebotomy.

By MARCEL E. CONRAD AND WILLIAM H. CROSBY With the technical assistance of N. R. Benjamin S YDENHAM’S report of the therapeutic effectiveness of iron in chiorotic patients was the basis for the rational use of this agent and its recognition as an essential body constituent and requirement. Subsequently, the demonstration of microcytic and hypochromic red cells led to a method of differentiating iron deficiencies from other anemias.’ Newer technics such as serum iron determination, radioactive iron studies and quantitation of iron in tissue stores have provided more precise means of distinguishing iron deficiency from other disorders.28 We have attempted to study the temporal relation of the characteristic changes of iron deficiency and to learn how they relate to severity. Phlebotomy was selected as the method of studying the natural history of iron deficiency in humans.