Atrophy of the spleen was observed in 3 cases of nontropical sprue, 1 case of chronic glomerulonephritis and 1 case of Whipple's disease. The occurrence of orthochromatic normoblasts and Howell-Jolly bodies in the peripheral blood in the absence of splenectomy may be a manifestation of atrophy of the spleen. Folic acid therapy was tried in 1 case and resulted in the disappearance of the orthochromatic normoblasts and fragmentation of the Howell-Jolly bodies.

Some arguments are put forward in favor of the conception that atrophy of the spleen may be caused by a disturbance of cell regeneration due to a chronic folic acid deficiency.

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© 1953 by American Society of Hematology, Inc.
1953
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