The anemia of childhood revisited

Blut. 1987 Mar;54(3):147-52. doi: 10.1007/BF00320368.

Abstract

The question of the mechanism of the physiological anemia of childhood was reexamined; we took into consideration the fact that microcytosis is a feature of this anemia as well as the evidence suggesting that the 2,3 DPG/hemoglobin ratio may depend in part on red cell size. In a group of normal, not-iron deficient children a high inverse correlation was obtained between the MCV and the 2,3 DPG/Hb ratio; this latter ratio did not correlate with serum phosphorus levels, previously incriminated in the indirect causation of the anemia of childhood.

MeSH terms

  • 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate
  • Anemia / blood
  • Anemia / etiology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diphosphoglyceric Acids / blood
  • Erythrocyte Indices
  • Erythrocytes, Abnormal / pathology
  • Female
  • Hemoglobins / analysis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Phosphorus / blood

Substances

  • Diphosphoglyceric Acids
  • Hemoglobins
  • 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate
  • Phosphorus