The Immediate Hematologic Effects of Intravenous Saccharated Iron Oxide

1. Saccharated ferric oxide in colloidal suspension was administered intravenously on 17 occasions to 13 patients in doses of 100 to 1,000 mg. A prompt arterial leukopenia, followed within 30 to 90 seconds by a similar fall in the venous blood, was observed in all patients who received more than 200 mg. of iron. This leukopenia involved all white cell types.

2. The magnitude of the fall in leukocytes was directly proportional to the amount of material injected, and independent of the rate of injection under the conditions of the study.

3. There was no significant change in the platelet number in arterial or venous blood of 4 patients. In 2 patients an increased clotting power of venous blood containing large amounts of iron was observed only during the period of injection.

4. The colloidal nature of the material is probably the responsible factor in producing the leukopenia.