Reticulocyte Count and Reticulocyte Hemoglobin Content 

No Results

No Results

processing….

The reticulocyte count is used to estimate the degree of effective erythropoiesis, ^[1] which can be reported as absolute reticulocyte count or as a reticulocyte percentage.

The reference range of the reticulocyte percentage in adults is 0.5%-1.5%. ^[2]

The reference range of the corrected reticulocyte percentage in adults is 0.5%-1.5%. ^[2]

Note that the reference ranges for automated reticulocyte count (absolute reticulocyte count), immature reticulocyte fraction (IRF), and reticulocyte specific hemoglobin content (mean reticulocyte hemoglobin content [CHr] and reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent [Ret-He]) vary owing to the different methods and different instruments used. Each laboratory should determine reference values according to their own methods and instruments. A comparison of different reference ranges as reported by different authors can be found in a review published article by Piva et al. ^[3]

The reticulocyte count is used to estimate the degree of effective erythropoiesis, ^[1] which can be reported as absolute reticulocyte count or as a reticulocyte percentage. In the latter case, if anemia is present, the reticulocyte percentage is spuriously high and may not reflect true bone marrow responses to anemia; therefore, the value has to be adjusted to a corrected reticulocyte percentage based on the patient’s hematocrit. ^{[4, 5, 1, 2]} Using an automated hematology analyzer, the automated absolute reticulocyte count is reported.

Just as hematocrit is used to correct the reticulocyte percentage, the red blood cell (RBC) count is already incorporated in a similar purpose to generate the absolute reticulocyte count; therefore, it is not necessary to calculate a correction for absolute reticulocyte count. ^[3] However, even when the degree of anemia is corrected for, another factor that can result in spuriously elevated reticulocyte percentage and absolute reticulocyte count is the time reticulocytes spend in the blood circulation prior to maturation.

In general, reticulocytes mature within one day of being released from bone marrow; however, in the setting of stress erythropoiesis, as in a high erythropoietin level (eg, in persons with severe anemia), reticulocytes are prematurely released from bone marrow to the blood circulation, increasing the number of days that reticulocytes stay in the blood circulation (maturation time of reticulocytes in days) and resulting in a spuriously high reticulocyte count.

The reticulocyte index, or reticulocyte production index, is a calculation that helps to alleviate the effect of the premature release of reticulocytes by taking into account maturation time of reticulocytes (ie, correction factor), in addition to correcting for the degree of anemia. ^{[1, 3, 2]}

The absolute reticulocyte count and corrected reticulocyte percentage, as a marker of RBC production, provide an initial evaluation as to whether anemia is due to loss of RBCs or inadequate production. ^{[5, 2]} In appropriate responses to peripheral RBC loss (bleeding or hemolysis), increased RBC production from the bone marrow is expected, and reticulocytosis (increased reticulocytes) should be apparent. On the other hand, the failure of the adequate bone marrow response to anemia usually correlates with a low reticulocyte count and is associated with bone marrow–related disorders.

Increased reticulocyte count reflects ongoing or recent RBC production activity, which may result from the following: ^[6]

Post bleeding (trauma, gastrointestinal bleeding, menorrhagia)

Post hemolysis (hemolytic anemia, hemolytic disease of the newborn)

Response to therapy (iron supplementation, vitamin B-12 or folic acid supplementation, erythropoietin supplementation, bone marrow recovery following chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation)

A decreased reticulocyte count reflects decreased RBC production, which may result from the following: ^[6]

Vitamin B-12, folic acid, and iron deficiency (megaloblastic anemia, pernicious anemia, iron deficiency anemia)

Decreased erythropoietin level (chronic renal failure)

Aplastic anemia or bone marrow failure syndromes

Post radiation therapy

Bone marrow replacement by benign (metabolic storage diseases, infection, sarcoidosis) or malignant processes (leukemias, involvement by lymphomas or metastatic tumors)

The reticulocyte index, or reticulocyte production index (RPI), which is corrected or adjusted for both premature release of reticulocytes from the bone marrow and the degree of anemia, is another parameter that provides an assessment for adequate bone marrow response to anemia.

An increased RPI (RPI >3) can be seen in the following scenarios: ^[3]

Hemolytic anemias

Recent hemorrhage

Marrow response to therapy

A decreased RPI (RPI < 2) can be seen in the following: ^[3]

Hypoproliferative disorder (ie, aplastic anemia)

Ineffective erythropoiesis, as seen in megaloblastic anemia

Some automated hematology analyzers report an immature reticulocyte fraction (IRF), which provides information similar to the reticulocyte index. ^[3] IRF is a quantitative measurement of the RNA content of the reticulocytes. Immature (younger) reticulocytes contain a higher RNA content than more mature reticulocytes. An increase in reticulocytes with the highest RNA content (increased IRF), therefore, reflects early marrow recovery from the conditioning regiments of stem cell transplantation, cancer chemotherapy, or treatment for nutritional anemias, which usually precedes the increase in absolute reticulocyte count. ^[7] IRF has also been used to evaluate ineffective erythropoiesis and to differentiate megaloblastic anemia or myelodysplasia (increased IRF) from other causes. ^{[4, 8]}

IRF can also been used with the reticulocyte count to narrow the causes of anemia. For example, a low absolute reticulocyte count with low IRF is associated with severe aplastic anemia or renal failure, while reticulocytopenia with a high IRF indicates repopulating marrow. Reticulocytosis with a high IRF is typically seen in acute hemolysis or blood loss, while a low to normal absolute reticulocyte count and high IRF is associated with dyserythropoiesis, as seen in an early response to iron therapy. ^[9]

The automated hematology analyzer can also report a measurement of reticulocyte-specific hemoglobin content as mean reticulocyte hemoglobin content (CHr) or reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent (Ret-He), depending on the type of instrument used. CHr and Ret-He, two comparable but not identical parameters, give a snapshot of the functional iron available for incorporation into hemoglobin within RBCs over the previous 3-4 days. ^[9] A decreased value generally reflects reduced cellular hemoglobin content and is reliable in identifying functional iron deficiency. Furthermore, this parameter is the strongest predictor of iron deficiency anemia in children. ^{[10, 11, 12]}

Estimating the reticulocyte-specific hemoglobin content (CHr or Ret-HE) is useful in the following scenarios: ^[4]

Detecting functional iron deficiency in complex clinical settings, such as chronic inflammation and chronic renal disease, since serum ferritin can be falsely elevated as an acute-phase reactant despite low body iron storage, combined with the physiologic variation of serum iron and total iron-binding capacity (the conventional iron panel is therefore less useful in these situations)

May be a better predictor of marrow iron stores than traditional serum iron parameters in nonmacrocytic subjects

A more sensitive predictor of iron deficiency than hemoglobin for screening infants and adolescents for iron deficiency prior to the development of anemia

Specimen: Whole blood

Collection: EDTA containing Vacutainer tube (purple/lavender top; see image below)

Panels: Reticulocyte count, or complete blood cell (CBC) count with reticulocyte count

The absolute reticulocyte count is the number of reticulocytes in a volume of blood, ^[4] which is a marker of RBC production. ^[5] Reticulocytes are immature, but already anucleated, erythroid cells (RBCs) with residual detectable amounts of RNA, thereby capable of producing hemoglobin despite anucleation. ^[13] RBCs are produced and mature in the bone marrow, and the majority are released in a fully mature form. In healthy adult individuals, a small proportion of the circulating RBCs are reticulocytes, representing the immediately preceding maturation state just before the fully developed RBCs.

The reticulocyte count provides an indirect insight into the bone marrow condition by distinguishing if the anemia is related to inadequate RBC production or accelerated loss/destruction. If the patient is anemic, the reticulocyte count percentage is falsely increased, in which case the value then needs to be adjusted based on the patient’s hematocrit to the corrected reticulocyte count. This parameter, however, does not take into account premature release of reticulocytes from the bone marrow, which results in a longer time the reticulocytes spend in the circulation and a subsequent spuriously high reticulocyte count.

The reticulocyte production index is a factor that is adjusted for both the degree of anemia and the maturation time of reticulocytes (see calculation below).

The corrected reticulocyte percentage is calculated with the formula below. ^{[1, 2]}

Corrected reticulocyte percentage = reticulocyte percentage x [actual hematocrit/normal hematocrit (usually 45)]

The reticulocyte index, or reticulocyte production index, is calculated with the formula below. ^{[1, 2]}

Reticulocyte index = corrected reticulocyte percentage/maturation time in peripheral blood in days (correction factor)*

*Note: For simplicity, an average factor of 2 is often used; however, the factor is based on the patient’s degree of anemia (hematocrit); see below

Hematocrits and corresponding correction factors are as follows:

Hematocrit, 45: Factor of 1

Hematocrit, 35: Factor of 1.5

Hematocrit, 25: Factor of 2

Hematocrit, 15: Factor of 2.5

Immature reticulocyte fraction

Immature reticulocyte fraction (IRF) is defined as the least mature fraction of reticulocytes and serves as a mean of assessing reticulocyte fraction. ^[3] The maturity of reticulocytes is classified based on the amount of stained RNA content by automated machine using fluorescence. The most immature reticulocytes, produced when erythropoietin levels are high, contain more RNA content and fluoresce more strongly than the more mature ones normally present in the peripheral blood. ^{[3, 9]} IRF can be used to help classify the cause of anemia, to assess for effective erythropoiesis, and to evaluate for marrow recovery. ^{[9, 4]}

Reticulocyte-specific hemoglobin content

The mean reticulocyte hemoglobin content (CHr) and reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent (Ret-He) are two equivalent parameters that capture the amount of hemoglobin available to the reticulocytes within the previous 3-4 days. Both parameters directly correlate with the functional availability of iron in the bone marrow. ^{[14, 10]}

The reticulocyte count is not usually a part of a standard CBC count, but is ordered and used along with CBC, as CBC with reticulocyte count, to guide anemia workup or response to treatment. Depending on the type of automated hematology analyzer used in the laboratory, reticulocyte-specific hemoglobin content and IRF may be reported along with reticulocyte count to provide additional valuable information. These parameters are useful in the following situations:

Anemia workup (peripheral destruction vs failure of production)

Response to therapy (iron, vitamin B-12, folic acid supplementation)

Bone marrow recovery after bone marrow transplantation or intensive chemotherapy

Smokers usually have an increased RBC count with an increased reticulocyte count (secondary polycythemia). ^[6]

The reticulocyte count/percentage temporarily increases during the adaptation period to higher altitudes (temporary decrease in the reticulocyte count/percentage upon the adaptation to lower altitudes). ^[6]

The reticulocyte count may be temporarily increased during pregnancy as the adaptation to the increased blood volume.

Prchal JT. Production of Erythrocytes. Lichtman MA, Kipps TJ, Seligsohn U, Kaushansky K, Prchal JT, eds. Williams Hematology. 8th ed. McGraw-Hill: New York; 2010. Chapter 31.

Means RT, Glader B. General Considerations. Greer JP, Foerster J, Rodgers GM, eds. Anemia: Wintrobe’s Clinical Hematology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2009. Vol. 1: Chapter 26.

Piva E, Brugnara C, Chiandetti L, Plebani M. Automated reticulocyte counting: state of the art and clinical applications in the evaluation of erythropoiesis. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2010 Oct. 48(10):1369-80. [Medline].

Ryan DH. Examination of Blood Cells. Lichtman MA, Kipps TJ, Seligsohn U, Kaushansky K, Prchal JT, eds. Williams Hematology. 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=6106433. Accessed. 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; January 15, 2012. Chapter 2.

Marks PW, Glader B. Approach to Anemia in the Adult and Child. Hoffman F, Benz EJ, Shattil SJ, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 5th ed. Churchill Livingstone: Philadelpha, PA; 2009. Chapter 34.

Hoffman R, Xu M, Finazzi G, Barbui T. The Polycythemias. Hoffman F, Benz EJ, Shattil SJ, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 5th ed. Philadelpha, PA: Churchill Livingstone; 2009. Chapter 68.

Morkis IV, Farias MG, Rigoni LD, Scotti L, Gregianin LJ, Daudt LE, et al. Assessment of immature platelet fraction and immature reticulocyte fraction as predictors of engraftment after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Int J Lab Hematol. 2014 Jul 28. [Medline].

Torres Gomez A, Casano J, Sanchez J, Madrigal E, Blanco F, Alvarez MA. Utility of reticulocyte maturation parameters in the differential diagnosis of macrocytic anemias. Clin Lab Haematol. 2003 Oct. 25(5):283-8. [Medline].

Briggs C, Bain BJ. Basic haematological techniques. Bain BJ, Bates I, Laffan MA, and Lewis SM eds. Dacie and Lewis Practical Haematology. 11th ed. Philadelphia PA: Churchill Livingstone; 2012. chap 3.

Brugnara C, Schiller B, Moran J. Reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent (Ret He) and assessment of iron-deficient states. Clin Lab Haematol. 2006 Oct. 28(5):303-8. [Medline]. [Full Text].

Brugnara C, Zurakowski D, DiCanzio J, Boyd T, Platt O. Reticulocyte hemoglobin content to diagnose iron deficiency in children. JAMA. 1999 Jun 16. 281(23):2225-30. [Medline].

Karagülle M, Gündüz E, Sahin Mutlu F, Olga Akay M. Clinical significance of reticulocyte hemoglobin content in the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia. Turk J Haematol. 2013 Jun. 30(2):153-6. [Medline]. [Full Text].

Vajpayee N, Graham SS, Bem S. Basic Examination of Blood and Bone Marrow. McPherson RA, Pincus MR. Henry’s Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 22nd ed. Elsevier/Saunders: Philadelphia, PA; 2011. chap 30.

Mast AE, Blinder MA, Lu Q, Flax S, Dietzen DJ. Clinical utility of the reticulocyte hemoglobin content in the diagnosis of iron deficiency. Blood. 2002 Feb 15. 99(4):1489-91. [Medline].

Buttarello M, Plebani M. Automated blood cell counts: state of the art. Am J Clin Pathol. 2008 Jul. 130(1):104-16. [Medline].

Reka G Szigeti, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Choladda Vejabhuti Curry, MD Assistant Professor of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine; Hematopathologist and Cytopathologist, Section of Hematopathology, Texas Children’s Hospital

Choladda Vejabhuti Curry, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society for Clinical Pathology, American Society of Cytopathology, American Society of Hematology, College of American Pathologists, United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, Society for Hematopathology, European Association for Haematopathology, International Clinical Cytometry Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Eric B Staros, MD Associate Professor of Pathology, St Louis University School of Medicine; Director of Clinical Laboratories, Director of Cytopathology, Department of Pathology, St Louis University Hospital

Eric B Staros, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association, American Society for Clinical Pathology, College of American Pathologists, Association for Molecular Pathology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Reticulocyte Count and Reticulocyte Hemoglobin Content 

Research & References of Reticulocyte Count and Reticulocyte Hemoglobin Content |A&C Accounting And Tax Services
Source

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us