Letter: Iron deficiency and thrombocytosis

To the Editor. —The comments by Drs. Dinçol and Aksoy emphasize the controversy regarding the effects of iron deficiency on platelet counts in the peripheral blood. They would contend that active blood loss produces thrombocytosis but that iron deficiency without active blood loss is not associated with thrombocytosis. Our position is that there are a number of conditions that are associated with thrombocytosis, such as active blood loss, neoplasia, inflammation, asplenism, and myeloproliferative diseases. We also think that iron deficiency can be associated with thrombocytosis. The most convincing data for the latter statement are derived from two independent studies. Schloesser et al1have shown that rats develop an increased platelet count after ingesting a diet selectively deficient in iron for three months. Another recent study in rats has confirmed that iron deficiency stimulates platelet production.2 There is also controversy about the response of the platelet count in