title: Balanced globin synthesis in idiopathic myelofibrosis.
abstract: Four patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis were found to have microcytic and/or hypochromic red cell indexes. The alpha/beta globin synthetic ratio determined by incubating peripheral blood with [14C]leucine was within normal limits in all patients studied. This is unlike a recent report of acquired hemoglobin H disease with decreased alpha/beta synthetic ratio in primary myelofibrosis. This indicates that mechanisms other than alpha-thalassemia-like defects may also be involved in the production of microcytic and hypochromic red cells in myelofibrosis.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D004913:Erythrocytes, Abnormal / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005914:Globins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055728:Primary Myelofibrosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D005914:Globins