THE ANEMIA OF INFECTION, VI. THE INFLUENCE OF COBALT ON THE ANEMIA ASSOCIATED WITH INFLAMMATION

Abstract

Abstract The influence of cobalt on the anemia associated with inflammation has been studied in three experiments involving observations in 108 rats. It was found that by the simultaneous administration of cobalt the anemia associated with inflammation, as produced by the injection of turpentine, could be prevented from developing and polycythemia appeared instead. This effect was accompanied by hypoferremia and an increase in erythrocyte protoporphyrin values similar to those encountered when anemia develops in association with inflammation. Similar, though less marked, chemical changes were observed when only cobalt was given and polycythemia was produced. A decrease in plasma albumin was noted in rats injected with cobalt or turpentine, or both, but this was not accompanied by an increased excretion of urinary nitrogen as measured by the urine urea and ammonia. The observations cited are consistent with the hypothesis that cobalt favorably influences the utilization of iron for the synthesis of hemoglobin.