Jaundice in thalassemia minor: a consequence of "ineffective erythropoiesis".

Abstract

THE term "ineffective erythropoiesis" is used to describe a pathophysiologic state in which a significant fraction of the erythropoietic activity of the bone marrow fails to produce circulating red cells with a measurable life-span.1 , 2 Instead, much of the heme pigment synthesized appears to be destroyed while the maturing erythroid cells are still in the bone marrow or shortly after their release into the circulation.3 This results in a disproportionately low reticulocyte count in the peripheral blood despite marked erythroid hyperplasia in the bone marrow.Studies of plasma iron turnover, radioiron utilization, fecal urobilinogen excretion and myeloid-erythroid ratio in the bone . . .