Quantitative measurement of splenic and hepatic red-cell destruction

A method has been developed by means of which independent measurement can be made of the amount of red-cell destruction occurring in the spleen and the liver. The technique involves a standard red-cell survival study and surface-counting measurements together with quantitative scanning of the spleen and liver with 113mIn colloid in order to calibrate the surface counter. The rate of destruction in each organ is obtained by fitting the measured uptake curve for the organ to a theoretical uptake curve by computer. In addition, if whole body counting is also performed, the amount of red-cell destruction occurring in the rest of the reticuloendothelial system may be deduced. Results are given for measurements on a series of 11 patients.