Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis. A Study of the Anemia and Iron Distribution Using Radioiron and Radiochromium1

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Abstract
Two patients with idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis were studied during periods of remission and exacerbation. Erythropoiesis and the movement of Fe within the body were studied with radioactive Fe. The erythrocyte survival time was determined by the Ashby differential agglutination method in one subject and by labeling the erythrocytes with radioactive sodium chromate in the other. The studies indicate that: (a) during exacerbation, the excessive plasma Fe turnover and Fe kinetic pattern are characteristic of an iron deficiency anemia and hemorrhage, but not of hemolysis; (b) during remission there is no disturbance in erythropoiesis or erythrocyte survival; (c) the spleen had no manifest role in the mechanism of the anemia; (d) Fe which is lost from the circulating blood into the lung parenchyma is poorly re-utilized despite a continuing Fe deficiency anemia.