Arsenic intoxication as a cause of megaloblastic anemia. 1975

D D Westhoff, and R J Samaha, and A Barnes

We have described a case of chronic arsenic intoxication associated with pancytopenia and megaloblastic erythropoiesis. The patient had the typical laboratory manifestations of effective erythorpoiesis due to a megaloblastic process, including macroovalocytes, mild pancytopenia, low reticulocyte index, increased marrow cellularity with erythroid hyperplasia, and morphologic evidence of megaloblastic maturation in the marrow. The patient's serum folate and vitamin B12 were normal, and the anemia regressed without therapy. Our case suggests that the combination of megaloblastosis with normoblastic or megaloblastic karyorrhexis,should raise the suspicion of arsenic intoxication in the mind of the observer. In addition, arsenic should be added to the list of agents causing a reversible megaloblastic anemia.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007642 Keratosis Any horny growth such as a wart or callus. Keratoderma Blennorrhagicum,Keratoma,Keratosis Blennorrhagica,Blennorrhagica, Keratosis,Blennorrhagicas, Keratosis,Blennorrhagicum, Keratoderma,Blennorrhagicums, Keratoderma,Keratoderma Blennorrhagicums,Keratomas,Keratoses,Keratosis Blennorrhagicas
D008099 Liver A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances. Livers
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009262 Nails The thin, horny plates that cover the dorsal surfaces of the distal phalanges of the fingers and toes of primates. Fingernails,Toenails,Fingernail,Nail,Toenail
D009431 Neural Conduction The propagation of the NERVE IMPULSE along the nerve away from the site of an excitation stimulus. Nerve Conduction,Conduction, Nerve,Conduction, Neural,Conductions, Nerve,Conductions, Neural,Nerve Conductions,Neural Conductions
D009461 Neurologic Manifestations Clinical signs and symptoms caused by nervous system injury or dysfunction. Neurologic Deficits,Neurologic Signs and Symptoms,Focal Neurologic Deficits,Manifestations, Neurologic,Manifestations, Neurological,Neurologic Dysfunction,Neurologic Findings,Neurologic Manifestation,Neurologic Signs,Neurologic Symptoms,Neurological Manifestations,Deficit, Focal Neurologic,Deficit, Neurologic,Deficits, Focal Neurologic,Deficits, Neurologic,Dysfunction, Neurologic,Dysfunctions, Neurologic,Finding, Neurologic,Findings, Neurologic,Focal Neurologic Deficit,Manifestation, Neurologic,Manifestation, Neurological,Neurologic Deficit,Neurologic Deficit, Focal,Neurologic Deficits, Focal,Neurologic Dysfunctions,Neurologic Finding,Neurologic Sign,Neurologic Symptom,Neurological Manifestation,Sign, Neurologic,Signs, Neurologic,Symptom, Neurologic,Symptoms, Neurologic
D012075 Remission, Spontaneous A spontaneous diminution or abatement of a disease over time, without formal treatment. Spontaneous Healing,Spontaneous Regression,Spontaneous Remission,Healing, Spontaneous,Regression, Spontaneous,Spontaneous Healings,Spontaneous Regressions
D012156 Reticulocytes Immature ERYTHROCYTES. In humans, these are ERYTHROID CELLS that have just undergone extrusion of their CELL NUCLEUS. They still contain some organelles that gradually decrease in number as the cells mature. RIBOSOMES are last to disappear. Certain staining techniques cause components of the ribosomes to precipitate into characteristic "reticulum" (not the same as the ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM), hence the name reticulocytes. Reticulocyte
D001856 Bone Marrow Examination Removal of bone marrow and evaluation of its histologic picture. Examination, Bone Marrow,Bone Marrow Examinations,Examinations, Bone Marrow

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