[Evaluation of storage-iron distribution in serum and reticuloendothelial system in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (author's transl)].

Serum ferritin, transferrin and the stainable non-heme iron, were evaluated in 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis in various stages and with different medications. We found a correlation between the serum ferritin values and the amount of stainable non-heme iron in the bone marrow, which was independent to the stage of the disease and the medication. The pathogenesis of the anemia in rheumatoid arthritis is discussed, together with the reported results in the literature.