Nature of the Reticulocytosis in Pernicious Anemia Following Liver Therapy

After liver therapy megaloblasts complete their maturation as reticulated and mature megalocytes. The resultant reticulocytosis is composed of reticulated megalocytes and normal reticulocytes. This not only indicates the reëstablishment of normal erythropoiesis but also, that the marrow is being purged of its pathologic red cell series, the megaloblasts. This response is qualitatively distinct from the reticulocytosis of hypochromic anemias following iron therapy and the one in normal laboratory animals after liver treatment.