An erythron-dependent model of iron kinetics.

The mathematical model here presented of steady-state iron kinetics in the human explicitly displays the influence of the maturative and proliferative behavior of erythrons (erythrocytes or their precursory cells). Based on a compartmented iron kinetics scheme, the model is in the form of a system of linear integrodifferential equations and describes the distribution of administered radioactive tracer as a function of time. Erythron behavior is characterized by three functions specifying iron uptake, proliferation, and survival. Simulative uses of the model are discussed and illustrated by an example.