Blood, 1955, Vol. 10, No. 12, pp. 1246-1255.
© 1955 American Society of Hematology, Inc.
Refractory Sideropenic Anemia in Childhood Due to an
Error of Iron Metabolism
ROLF ZETTERSTRÖM 1 and
SIMONE DELAVA 1
1 Pediatric Clinic, Karolinska Sjukhuset, Stockholm.
Two cases of essential hypochronic anemia in childhood are reported. One
of the cases which developed a mild Plummer-Vinson syndrome was completely
refractory to peroral as well as intravenous iron therapy. In both cases the iron
metabolism has been studied by means of radioiron.
The following characteristics were found: The serum iron level was extremely
low but the iron binding capacity was normal. The absorption of iron from the
alimentary tract was defective and intravenously injected radioiron was utilized
for hemoglobin synthesis at a slow rate. There was a rapid plasma iron turnover.
The hypothesis is offered that the cause of the anemia resided in an abnormality
in the regulation of iron metabolism.
Submitted on March 9, 1955
Accepted on August 2, 1955
