The Use of Radioactive Iron in the Investigation of Anaemia

Abstract

We have found tests with radioactive iron to be of value in the investigation of cases of so-called refractory hypochromic anaemia. Patients with a true failure of absorption of iron may be distinguished from those whose anaemia fails to respond to treatment because of some other factor, intolerance to therapy, poor utilisation of absorbed iron, continued excessive loss being the chief of these. In those patients who are shown to have a poor absorption the majority have idiopathic steatorrhoea.