Dn. Fiske et al., ZINC-INDUCED SIDEROBLASTIC ANEMIA - REPORT OF A CASE, REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE, AND DESCRIPTION OF THE HEMATOLOGIC SYNDROME, American journal of hematology, 46(2), 1994, pp. 147-150
Zinc ingestion has become increasingly popular in the lay and food fad
dist population. Herein described by way of a case report and review o
f the 13 cases in the literature is the syndrome of severe anemia asso
ciated with excessive and prolonged intake of oral zinc. The syndrome
is characterized by anemia, granulocytopenia, and bone marrow findings
of vacuolated precursors and ringed sideroblasts. Serum analysis reve
als increased zinc levels, decreased copper levels, and a decrease in
ceruloplasmin. The mechanism appears to be zinc-induced copper deficie
ncy, which is instrumental in producing the profound bone marrow abnor
malities, as zinc itself is of low toxicity. Importantly, the syndrome
is totally reversible with cessation of zinc intake. Hematologists sh
ould be aware of this form of reversible sideroblastic anemia. (C) 199
4 Wiley-Liss, Inc.