Secondary Anemia (XV) and Reticuloendothelial Uptake in Cancer

Abstract

An attempt was made to study the relationship between secondary anemia and the reticuloendothelial uptake in 18 patients with cancer. The RE up- take of colloidal radiogold was significantly more rapid in the patients than in the controls; so was the plasma clearance of radioiron even though there was not any statistically significant anemia. The gold and iron clearances were significantly correlated to each other, and to the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The results are considered to be compatible with the hypothesis that cancer anemia may be caused, e.g., by RE uptake of some erythropoietic substances and of erythrocytes.

Alterations in Erythropoiesis Preceding Leukemia

“…In the present patients, this assumption was not justified either. It is known [5][6][7][8] that in aregenerative and secondary anemia iron is incorporated into bone marrow reticulo endothelial cells and retained there without being incorporated into erythrocytes. For this reason no individual estimation could be made of the whole-body bone marrow radio activity, which could only be assumed to average 66% of the total injected radioactivity [2].…”

Annotation: THE HAEMATOLOGICAL STRESS SYNDROME

“…One might speculate that the reticuloendothelial system (RES) may be the common denominator, for five reason. (1) The RES activity, as reflected by the spleen size or by plasma clearance of sensitized red cells or various colloids, seems to be increased in the chronic phase in experimental animals, in patients with cancer, and in patients with inflammation or trauma (Wagner et al, 1963;Salky et al, 1964;Crowther et al, 1969;Wiklund-Hammarstrom et al, 1971;Lockner et a!, 1972;Reizenstein & Gheorghescu, 1974;Reizenstein et al, 1975). (ii) Lipid containing 'Gaucher-like cells' (Albrecht, 1969) and erythroblast containing macrophages (Berk et al, 1974) have been found in the bone marrow of patients with the haematological stress syndrome.…”

Hematological changes in psoriasis. Secondary anemia, XVIII

“…The method of folate bio assay and of estimating the serum rolate clearance ratc ufter an imravcnous dose of 15 /<i rolates per kg body wcight has bccn describcd (2) as bas 1he method of studying the .. Fe-clearance rate from the plasma (9,14 ).…”

“…Anem. ia is a well known complication of inflam matory and malignant diseases (2,3,8,9). Its pathogenesis is, however, only partly understood.…”

“…In patients with inflammatory diseases a decreased intestinal iron absorption has been proposed (4,10). Previous results suggest that increased uptake in reticulo endothelial (RE) cells of both iron and red cells could explain tbe secondary anemia (9).…”