Studies on pure red cell aplasia. VII. Presence of proerythroblasts and
response to splenectomy: a case report
DS Zaentz, SB Krantz and DA Sears
An 18-yr-old female with chronic active hepatitis developed a severe anemia
due to a lack of red cell production. Her bone marrow showed many large
proerythroblasts but an almost complete lack of more mature erythroblasts.
Incubation of the marrow cells in a normal medium with erythropoietin
concentrate led to increased erythropoiesis as indicated by the development
of mature erythroblasts as well as a ninefold increase in hemoglobin
synthesis. The patient's plasma was cytotoxic for erythroblasts. Following
splenectomy, a remission of the disease occurred. This study indicates that
in some cases the anemia associated with abundant marrow proerythroblasts
and the absence of mature erythroblasts has the same pathogenesis as pure
red cell aplasia and that splenectomy may be beneficial when there is a
lack of response to immunosuppressive drugs.
Volume 46,
Issue 2,
pp. 261-270,
08/01/1975
Copyright © 1975 by The American Society of Hematology
