Myeloid Metaplasia in Vitamin D Deficiency Rickets

Abstract

Over a period of 30 months, extramedullary haematopoiesis together with decrease in bone marrow cellularity and anaemia were observed in 11 patients with severe nutritional rickets. To 6 of them vitamin D was administered after which a marked improvement in haemato‐logic findings was noted and the liver and spleen began to decrease in size, eventually returning to normal. Myeloid metaplasia in patients with severe rickets may be the cause of anaemia and it is reversible with the therapy.