Abstract |
The pathogenetic mechanisms of anemia in patients with
chronic liver disease were observed. Seventeen patients
with moderate to advanced hepatic diseass were studied
by various methods. Only patients without previous
blood loss were included : 14 had cirrhosis, 2 had
active chronic hepatitis, and one had inferior vena
cava obstruction with associated liver cirrhosis. The
followings were the results : 1.The anemia based on red
blood cell count, Hb., and Ht. was found in 76.5-78.6%
of the patients. 2. Red cell indices indicated that
normo-macrocytic and normochromic anemia was present is
the majority of the patients. 3. No evidence of
megaloblastic anemia was found on the basis of the
morphological examinations. 4. Serum iron, TIBC, %
saturation and iron content in the bone marrow
indicated that iron deficiency anemia was present in
about half of the patients. 5. In the view of the
erythrocyte dynamics, primary increase in the red cell
destruction was ascribed to the cause of the anemia. 6.
Decrease in the red cell survival time was not
correlated with MCV, % saturation and S.L. ratio. Also,
hemoglobin level was not correlated with MCV, %
saturation and T50 Cr. Therefore, multiple causes may
be involved in the pathogenesis of the anemia. 7.
Anemia as determined by the red cell volume was found
in only 60% of the patients. It may be possible that
hemodilutional anemia is present. |