The Effect of Iron Stores on Ferrokinetics in Polycythaemia

SUMMARY The ferrokinetic data of patients with primary polycythaemia are those of patients with depleted iron stores. Differences in iron kinetics between polycythaemia vera and secondary polycythaemia are related to the variation in the quantity of iron stores and do not appear to be inherent to the type of polycythaemia. If ferrokinetic studies are to be used to evaluate or classify polycythaemia, storage iron must be assessed.