Blood, 1957, Vol. 12, No. 5, pp. 409-427.
© 1957 American Society of Hematology, Inc.
Erythrokinetics. IV. The Plasma Iron Turnover as a
Measure of Erythropoiesis
THOMAS H. BOTHWELL 1,
ARNOLD V. HURTADO 1,
DENNIS M. DONOHUE 1, and
CLEMENT A. FINCH 1
1 University of Washington School of Medicine, Department of Medicine,
Seattle, Washington.
Experimental and clinical studies have been performed to define more clearly
the significance of the plasma iron turnover.
It has been shown that the plasma iron turnover is not affected by the rate of
red cell destruction and to only a limited extent by increased body stores. It
does, however, reflect the degree of erythroid marrow activity and is a sensitive
indicator for measuring changes in such activity.
A series of 85 studies in normal subjects and in patients with various hematologic disorders were carried out to define the range of response with anemia and
to assess the clinical value of the plasma iron turnover as an index of erythropoiesis. In states of marrow hyperfunction it is increased from 3 to 6 times normal
and may be depressed to approximately half normal with marrow hypofunction.
The plasma iron turnover is increased with marrow dyspoiesis. This increase is a
measure of total erythropoiesis and does not indicate the production of viable
red cells.
Submitted on July 30, 1956
Accepted on November 4, 1956
