Erythrokinetic Studies in Thalassaemia

Erythrocyte survival studies were performed in a group of thalassaemic patients. The survival and sites of destruction of autologous and normal donor cells were determined. These studies were repeated in patients who had undergone splenectomy. The life span of the autologous red cells was found to be invariably shortened with some evidence of splenic sequestration. On the other hand, the life span of the donor cells was normal or decreased after repeated blood transfusions.
Following surgery, there was no noticeable improvement in the survival of the patient's abnormal cells, while transfused red cells now survived normally.