Red Cell Enzymes in the Anemia of Myelofibrosis

In an attempt to elucidate the cause of increased glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in patients with myelofibrosis, the spleen size, red cell survival, and erythrocyte glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase levels were correlated with G6PD levels in a group of nine patients with this disorder. The evidence indicates that the patients with increased G6PD had a young erythrocyte population, while those with normal G6PD did not. It was concluded that the G6PD elevation, when it occurred, was reflecting cell age changes, and was probably without pathogenetic significance. Furthermore, the data suggest that G6PD might be clinically useful in evaluating the rate of erythrocyte production in myelofibrotic patients.