ARSENIC-INDUCED BONE-MARROW TOXICITY - ULTRASTRUCTURAL AND ELECTRON-PROBE ANALYSIS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 53  (5) , 820-827
Abstract
A patient with severe As poisoning that resulted in marked peripheral blood and bone marrow abnormalities, including megaloblastic erythropoiesis experienced many of the previously reported hematologic complications of As poisoning leukopenia, granulocytopenia, absolute eosinophilia and profound anemia. An ultrastructural and electron probe analysis of the bone marrow was reported. Although megaloblastic anemia associated with As poisoning was rarely described, the presence of As in the local bone marrow milieu was not previously demonstrated. The ultrastructual features of As-induced bone marrow toxicity are similar to those described in other dyserythropoietic states and include marked nuclear aberrations involving shape, chromatin distribution and nuclear envelope. Using the technique of energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (electron probe) As was demonstrated in bone marrow spicules; As can cause megaloblastic anemia. This technique may be a useful tool in further studies that attempt to explore the mechanism of As-induced hematologic toxicity. As has a direct toxic effect on DNA synthesis that results in marked disturbances of nuclear division. The most appropriate screening procedure to evaluate possible As poisoning is tissue As measurements (hair and nails) rather than 24 h urinary measurements.

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