Bone marrow studies in myelomatosis.
The percentage of fat-cell areas in bone marrow particles from 22 patients with untreated myelomatosis was estimated. In only 1 patient was the mean fat cell area below 25% of the bone marrow area measured. A negative correlation was found between the area of fat cells and plasma cells, indicating a displacement of the fat cell area by the plasma cells. 28% of the patients had empty bone marrow deposits of iron. However, based on a normal iron saturation of S-transferrin and a normal sideroblast count in the bone marrow, the supply of iron to the erythropoiesis was considered sufficient. All patients but one had normoblastic bone marrows. Using a deoxyuridine suppression test in 10 patients, no biochemical defect could be demonstrated. To judge from the correlation coefficient a minor degree (9-14%) of the variation in Hb values could be predicted from the cellularity in the bone marrow while a major degree (70%) could be predicted from the renal glomerular filtration rate. The results do not support a displacement of blood-forming elements, iron deficiency, vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency to be of general significance in the pathogenesis of anaemia, but agrees with a causal relationship between anaemia and renal failure.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003857:Deoxyuridine; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005565:Formiminoglutamic Acid / Q000652:urine; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000473:pathology*; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000473:pathology; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
D005565:Formiminoglutamic Acid; D005492:Folic Acid; D007501:Iron; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D003857:Deoxyuridine