Hereditary Hypochromic Anemia with Transfusion Hemosiderosis Treated with Pyridoxine

Abstract

ALTHOUGH pyridoxal-5-phosphate is known to serve as a coenzyme in the synthesis of heme,¹ anemia associated with pyridoxine deficiency has been reported only rarely in human beings. Snyderman and her co-workers² described an increase in reticulocytes and hemoglobin concentration in an infant treated with vitamin B₆ who had become anemic while receiving a pyridoxine-deficient diet. More recently Harris and his co-workers³ reported a therapeutic response to pyridoxine in an anemic adult male. This patient was vitamin B₆ deficient as evidenced by abnormalities of tryptophane metabolism. Since the report of Harris et al. several other patients have been described . . .