Significance of Changes in Serum Muramidase Activity in Megaloblastic Anemia

Abstract

ERYTHROKINETIC studies in patients with pernicious anemia have demonstrated that the anemia results from a combination of moderately decreased life-span of circulating erythrocytes and inadequate delivery of mature erythrocytes to the peripheral blood.¹ Ferrokinetic studies have shown that the inadequate release of mature red cells to the peripheral blood is due to increased destruction of the developing red cells while in the marrow (ineffective erythropoiesis).^{2 , 3} Little, however, is known concerning the mechanism (or mechanisms) resulting in the leukoneutropenia and thrombopenia not infrequently found in patients with megaloblastic anemia. In general, it has been assumed that inadequate bone-marrow production or delivery . . .