[Incidence of neoplasms in non-congenital refractory anemias. Ferrokinetic pattern]

Twenty cases of refractory anemia were studied by means of ferrokinetic analysis with Fe-59. An accelerated plasma clearing, a diminished iron uptake by red cells, and a decreased bone marrow activity were found. Half of the cases showed secondary liver and spleen hemochromatosis. The incidence of malignant tumors observed in the studied refractory anemias was 35% (7 out of 20 cases, corresponding to 4 solid tumors and 3 leukemias). The authors suggest the convenience to study erythropoiesis in anemias with an obscure origin using the ferrokinetic procedure with Fe-59.