RED-CELL FERRITIN AND IRON STORES IN CHRONIC GRANULOCYTIC-LEUKEMIA

Basic red cell ferritin was investigated in 28 patients with different phases of chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL). Red cell ferritin was significantly decreased in remission after busulphan treatment and sig nificantly elevated in the blast crisis as compared to healthy control s. Bone marrow stainable iron was decreased or absent in 86% of patien ts in the initial phase at the time of diagnosis and in 92% of those i n remission. Red cell ferritin correlated with serum ferritin, however serum ferritin level remained above normal range during all phases of the disease. A negative correlation between red cell ferritin and hem oglobin (Hb) r = -0.605, p < 0.001) suggested that red cell ferritin l evel reflected the rate of iron utilization for heme synthesis. Decrea sed red cell iron stores observed in the remission may be explained by regression of dyserythropoiesis and by restoration of normal Hb synth esis after busulphan treatment. A progressive dyserythropoiesis in the blast crisis may lead to an Increased red cell ferritin level.