Ferrokinetics in Patients Suffering from Chronic Renal Disease and Anaemia

The plasma iron transport rate and the radio‐iron incorporation into the erythrocytes were measured in 18 patients with chronic renal disease and anaemia. The results of surface counting which was carried out in 15 of the patients were also taken into consideration in the interpretation of the ferrokinetic indices. The results revealed that total erythropoiesis failed to increase in response to the anaemia in at least 13 of the 18 patients. Total erythropoiesis was increased in at least 2 cases. It is presumed that intramedullary haemolysis was increased in one of these patients, whilst in the second patient the most probable cause of the anaemia was intravascular haemolysis. The radio‐iron incorporation into the erythrocytes was abnormally low in 9 cases.