Anaemia of Felty's Syndrome

Abstract
The mechanism of the anemia in 4 cases of Felty''s syndrome was studied, using radioactive chromium (Cr51) as a red cell label before and after splenectomy. In 1 case Fe utilization was also measured, using radioactive iron (Fe59) before and after splenectomy. It was concluded that the anemia is mainly due to hemolysis. There was evidence of Increased splenic sequestration of erythrocytes and the anemia was rectified in all patients by splenectomy. Radioiron studies confirmed an inadequate iron utilization for hemoglobin synthesis and this was not improved by splenectomy. Splenectomy corrected the leucopenia present in each case and also the thrombocytopenia which occurred in 2 of them.