In 12 patients with chronic renal failure, iron utilization and erythropoiesis have been studied byadministration of 59Fe and estimation of red cell survival time with 51Cr. Quantitative studies of the clearance of 59Fe from the plasma and its incorporation into the circulating red cell show that erythropoiesis is, in certain cases, effective and in other cases, ineffective. These findings are confirmed by body surface measurements with radioactive iron. Studies with radioactive chromium also show, in certain cases, a normal, and in others, a reduced, survival time of the circulating red cells. Thus, the cause of anemia in uremic patients seems to be due either to a diminished red cell production, hemolysis, or a combination of both.