Erythrocyte Transaminase Activity in Iron Deficiency Anaemia

There is a relative lack of the pyridoxal coenzyme for glutamic‐pyruvic transaminase in the erythrocytes of patients with iron deficiency anaemia compared with normal subjects. This group of patients also has an increased urinary excretion of xanthurenic acid following a tryptophane load. These findings suggest a minor degree of pyridoxine deficiency. Glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase appears to be more avid for the coenzyme and is unchanged in the iron deficient patients.