The therapeutic effect of germanium dioxide in anemia

Abstract

The erythropoietic action of germanium dioxide in animals and in one normal man was demonstrated by Hammett and Müller. 1 We have treated ten patients suffering from anemia, administering the germanium (N. J. Zinc Co. product) by mouth in 0.2 per cent. water solution. The dosage was between 100 and 200 mgs. of germanium dioxide given daily, or in some cases every two or three days, until between 950 and 1,400 mgs. had been given. In three cases of anemia following hemorrhage there were maximum increases in the number of erythrocytes per cubic millimeter of blood amounting to 77.2, 71.4 and 41.5 per cent. above the control counts. The hemoglobin in these cases increased to a maximum of 53.2, 35.1 and 56.7 per cent. above the controls. In addition to the germanium, one and one half ounces of “ovoferrin” were given daily to the last patient, who had carcinoma of the uterus. The condition of the patient became worse, however, and she died on the day of the maximum redcell count.

In five cases of secondary anemia, with diagnoses including visceroptosis, colitis, tachycardia, carcinoma of the breast and malignant endocarditis, after treatment with germanium the red cells increased to a maximum of 23.4, 26, 53.4, 25.8 and 5.4 per cent. above the control counts, with increases in hemoglobin up to 9.5, 10.1, 14.5, 20 and 3.1 per cent. above the controls. In one of these cases after the increase in red cells of 53.4 per cent. there was a drop to 40 per cent. above the control one week after the last dose of germanium, the count remaining at this level for about ten days and then dropping to 7.7 per cent. above the control.