Age, beta thalassaemia trait, and iron-deficient anaemia significantly affect reticulocyte indices in pre-school children

Abstract

Age, IDA and beta-thal significantly affect reticulocyte indices. CHr and micro_r may have a role as screening tools in discriminating between IDA and beta-thal heterozygosity.

Reticulocyte parameters of delta beta thalassaemia trait, beta thalassaemia trait and iron deficiency anaemia

“…Thus, CHr seems to be influenced by haemoglobinisation and especially by the size of RBCs. These results are similar to those reported previously by Vicinanza et al ,7 Chouliaras et al ,13 Urrechaga et al 18 and Ceylan et al 19 using the same analytical platform. However, some of them reported insufficient sensitivity and/or specificity of CHr for discriminating both entities 13 19.…”

“…These results are similar to those reported previously by Vicinanza et al ,7 Chouliaras et al ,13 Urrechaga et al 18 and Ceylan et al 19 using the same analytical platform. However, some of them reported insufficient sensitivity and/or specificity of CHr for discriminating both entities 13 19. CHr values should be interpreted in the context of the overall erythrocyte physiology of the patient due to its diagnostic limitations in patients with recent blood transfusions, iron therapy or concomitant vitamin B 12 or folate deficiency 3.…”

Reference values for reticulocyte parameters and hypochromic RBC in healthy children

“…Reticulocyte hemoglobin content has been proposed as an iron status marker, valuable for identification of iron deficient states prior to the development of anemia in children, at a time that traditional biochemical parameters could be noninformative . CHr may also assist in differentiating thalassemia from iron deficiency in children .…”

Reticulocyte haemoglobin content as a marker of iron deficiency

“…Moreover, CHr has diagnostic limitations: it can be falsely low in case of haemoglobinopathies causing microcytic anaemia-like β thalassemia35 or falsely high in patients with megaloblastic anaemia 36. However, the prevalence of haemoglobinopathies in Germany is low (1/200–1/500),37 and our patients routinely receive supplements of folic acid and Vitamin B12 according to recent recommendations.…”