TITLE:
Iron-Restricted Erythropoiesis in Anaemic Patients with Giant Cell Arteritis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica
AUTHORS:
Torbjörn Karlsson
KEYWORDS:
Anaemia; Iron-Restriction; Erythropoiesis; Giant Cell Arteritis; Polymyalgia Rheumatica
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Blood Diseases,
Vol.3 No.1,
March
29,
2013
ABSTRACT: The aim of this observational study
was to biochemically characterize the anaemia in GCA (giant cell arteritis) and
PMR (polymyalgia rheumatica) patients. Values for mean corpuscular volume, mean
corpuscular hemoglobin and soluble transferrin receptor were normal, whereas serum iron and total iron
binding capacity (TIBC) were subnormal, and mean ferritin was above the upper
reference limit. Iron-restricted erythropoiesis (IRE), defined as a bone marrow
smear staining positive for iron in combination with transferrin saturation
less than 20%, was present in all patients. All patients exhibited clinical and
biochemical signs of active inflammation with elevated C-reactive protein and
an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate.