Plasma cell iron--clinical and morphologic features.

In order to identify the major clinical features and laboratory findings in patients with plasma cell iron, the authors reviewed the medical records and marrow aspirates of 53 consecutive patients with plasma cell iron hospitalized at Nashville Veterans Administration Hospital over a seven-year period. Plasma cell iron was associated most commonly with alcoholism and occurred in marrows with increased, normal, and decreased iron stores. In patients with decreased marrow iron, plasma cells were the major site of stainable iron. Plasma cell iron was found in patients without other morphologic changes of alcoholism such as megaloblastosis, erythroid vacuolization, and ringed sideroblasts. Plasma cell iron could be demonstrated in biopsy and autopsy material from extra-marrow sites. Ultrastructural studies showed iron always was located in membrane bound lysosomal vesicles of plasma cells.