Iron turnover in patients with chronic uraemia treated with hemodialysis

Radio-iron kinetic tests were performed in 7 patients with end-stage renal disease treated by hemodialysis; the study could be completed in 6 patients. The incorporation of radio-iron into the erythrocytes was 21% on average in patients with acute anemia. The red cell life-span determined in 4 patients became significantly shorter in 3 patients. Iron turnover in the bone marrow was significantly lower than normal, the rate of ineffective erythropoiesis being higher. Serum ferritin levels were significantly higher, and tissue and extravascular iron turnover was found to be enhanced compared to normal. At the same time, serum iron level was normal. The data on iron turnover indicated deficient hemopoiesis in the bone marrow, due partly to the lack of erythropoietin and partly to the insufficiency of the BFU-E (burst forming units) and CFU-E (colony-forming units) reserves. Undoubtedly, this was a consequence of the uremia.