Acquired iron-deficiency anaemia due to impaired iron transport.
A previously healthy 39-year-old woman presented with severe iron-deficiency anaemia, but she had lost no blood and her serum iron level was high. Her bone marrow was hypercellular with a predominance of erythroid elements and had no stainable iron deposits, but it also showed dyserythropoiesis and an excess of apparently normal plasma cells. IgM was demonstrated on her bone-marrow erythrocytes and their precursors. On azathioprine and prednisone therapy she had a complete clinical and haematological remission. The impaired iron transport and the associated dyserythropoiesis were probably due to an IgM-mediated autoimmune process. Diabetes mellitus, which first appeared during her anaemic illness, could also have been due to an autoimmune process. This is the first report of an iron-deficiency anaemia caused by a naturally acquired impairment of iron transport.
D000328:Adult; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001692:Biological Transport; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014168:Transferrin / Q000276:immunology
D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D014168:Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron; D001379:Azathioprine; D008775:Methylprednisolone