Abstract
Per cent of sideroblasts and siderocytes in bone marrow (aspirates) was examined in infants and children, whose blood vales were all within normal limits, to establish the normal criteria of them.
The per cent of sideroblasts were 43.2±11.0% for 9 mature newborn infants within 24 hours after birth. 21.4±11.3% for 12 infants aged from 1 to 6 months, 9, 5±6.4% for 8 infants aged from 7 to 12 months, 8.3±6.9% for 14 children aged from 1 year to 3 years, 13.0±8.0% for 12 children from 4 to 12 years.
The per cent of sideroblasts was significantly high in infants within 6 months after birth compared with other age group, showing the peak in the period of newborn infants.
In the period when sideroblast appears at high rates, the namber of Pru ssin-blue-positive granules in an erythroblast was usually from 3 to 5 and the cells which contained higher concentration of such granules were also observed more frequently than in other age groups, but this was marked only in newborn infants.
No ringed sideroblasts were observed in normal cases.
The per cent of sideroblasts in bone marrow was significantly high in newborn infants compared with other ages, but it was considered to be of little value in clinical examination because of low per cent in every ages.The correlation between the per cent of sideroblasts and that of hemosiderins was examined and iron metabolism in children was discussed.
