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The effect of RBC hemolysates on the recovery from anemia due to blood removal was studied in four dogs. For that purpose each dog was bled on two occasions to obtain similar degrees of anemia, and the erythrocytic production was measured during the 14- to 18-day lapse following each bleeding. A 2- to 3-month interval was allowed between bleedings. The erythrocytic production was evaluated by Cr51 determinations of the circulating erythrocyte volume (EV) after each bleeding and at the end of the 14- to 18-day lapse. During the control study, the dogs received iron intramuscularly and saline intraperitoneally; the latter was substituted by hemolyzed RBC during the test study. The erythrocytic production, in terms of ml. of EV gained per Kg. and per day, in every animal was higher during the test study: 1.126 to 2.411 (mean, 1.568) times the production of the same dog during the control study. The results furnish strong evidence that the products of erythrocytic destruction have an enhancing effect on the recovery of anemia induced by bleedings in dogs.

Summary. Case records of patients with anaemia due to lack of iron, vitamin B12 or folate, or to abnormal haemolysis were reviewed with regard to magnitude of reticulocytosis and rate of haemoglobin rise after therapy. Greater absolute reticulocyte values were observed in hereditary and acquired haemolytic anaemias. Furthermore, and more significantly, the rate of haemoglobin rise in autoimmune haemolytic anaemia responding to corticosteroid administration was greater than in the deficiency anaemias during adequate therapy. Additional data are presented supporting the old concept that erythrocytic production is greater in haemolytic anaemias than in deficiency anaemias after specific therapy.

Erythrocyte production was measured in 21 iron deficiency anemia patients after therapy with parenteral iron. The red cell mass was measured twice with 51Cr and red blood cell survival by labeling with 51Cr. In all cases, erythrocyte production increased in the 12 h following parenteral iron administration (dextran or polysaccharide-iron oxide). Production increased sharply for 3 to 6 days, remained high for 2 or 3 days and fell sharply thereafter. It is suggested that this fall is not due to a lack of available iron.