Quantitation of Ineffective Erythropoiesis from the Incorporation of [15N]Delta-aminolaevulinic Acid and [15N]Glycine into Early Labelled Bilirubin: II. ANAEMIC PATIENTS

Abstract

The incorporation of [15N].delta.-aminolevulinic acid and [15N]glycine into Hb heme and early labeled bilirubin was measured in subjects with various hematological disorders. The clearance of [14C]bilirubin was used to measure bilirubin production rate, and the magnitude of the various sources of bilirubin production and the percentage ineffective erythropoiesis were calculated. Ineffective erythropoiesis was a major factor in the production of the anemia in patients with the following disorders: megaloblastic anemia associated with the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, thalassemia intermedia, sideroblastic anemia and the anemia of chronic disorders . In 3 patients with Fe-deficiency anemia, ineffective erythropoiesis was increased, but was of minor importance in the production of the anemia; in 2 patients with aplastic anemia and one with macrocytosis of alcoholism, there was no increase in ineffective erythropoiesis.