Ferrokinetics in patients with malaria: Haemoglobin synthesis and normoblasts in vitro

• Main Authors: Tanomsri Srichaikul, Thitiporn Siriasawakul
• Other Authors: Mahidol University
• Format: Article
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Immunology and Microbiology; Medicine
• Online Access: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/10874

Bone marrow cultures in 15 Plasmodium falciparum patients were studied both during and after parasitaemia. Abnormalities were observed only in the group during parasitaemia. These abnormalities included: (1) decreased normoblastic number and cellular iron incorporation in all cases; (2) premature death of normoblasts during their development in the cultures in all cases; (3) defective haemoglobin synthesis in 3 of 11 cases (27%). A causal relationship between defective haemoglobin synthesis and degree of normoblastic destruction in the cultures was found. Marked anaemia and depressed C’ 3 level were found only in the group with defective haemoglobin synthesis. The significance of these findings is discussed. © 1976 Oxford University Press.