Nasal Mucosa in the Iron Deficient State: A Clinical and Electron-microscopic Study

Abstract

Good results of iron therapy obtained in ozena patients with significantly lowered serum iron level encouraged studies on the pathogenesis of the disease. In electron microscopic examinations, special attention was paid to the considerable disintegration of connective-tissue stroma in the mucosa. In some connective-tissue cells ferruginous micelles were found in the mitochondrial matrix. Mitochondrial deposits may be a morphological expression of disturbed iron metabolism at subcellular levels.