Open AccessErythrocyte and reticulocyte parameters in iron deficiency and thalassemia
Author(s) -
Urrechaga Eloísa,
Borque Luís,
Escanero Jesús F.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of clinical laboratory analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1098-2825
pISSN - 0887-8013
DOI - 10.1002/jcla.20462
Subject(s) - microcytosis , anisocytosis , reticulocyte , thalassemia , beta thalassemia , medicine , iron deficiency , gastroenterology , iron deficiency anemia , anemia , chemistry , biochemistry , messenger rna , gene
: Red blood cells (RBCs) extended parameters or erythrocyte subsets are now reported by the new Sysmex XE 5000 analyzer. This study was aimed at establishing a characteristic analytical feature, including the new erythrocyte and reticulocyte parameters, in case of thalassemia trait and iron deficiency (IDA). Methods : Ninety healthy individuals, 136 β‐thalassemia carriers, 121 mild IDA, and 126 severe IDA patients were analyzed. Results : The values obtained for the RBC extended parameters were significantly different ( P <0.0001) in the groups; the only exception was %Hypo‐He in the case of mild IDA and thalassemia ( P =0.6226). %Hypo‐He was considerably greater in severe IDA (23.4%) than in mild cases (12.4%), P <0.0001. %MicroR was more increased in thalassemia (38.6 %) than in the mild IDA (16.5%, P <0.001) and in severe IDA (21.6%, P <0.001). Immature reticulocyte fraction (IRF) mean values in the groups were statistically different; the thalassemia group had an intermediate value (8.7%) between healthy (4.4%) and IDA (16.7 and 12.9%). Conclusions : Erythrocytosis and severe microcytosis, together with a high percentage of microcytes and a moderate increase in IRF, is the profile of β‐thalassemia carriers, whereas anisocytosis and the hypochromic subset correlates with the severity of the anemia in iron‐deficient patients. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 25:223–228, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.