An observation on erythrocyte and reticulocyte in pregnant women with β-thalassemia

Objective To explore the change in erythrocyte parameters (MCV, MCH, MCHC, and RDW) and reticulocyte parameters (RET%, RET#, IRF, LFR, MFR, and HFR) in pregnant women with β-thalassemia. Methods Erythrocyte and reticulocyte parameters were measured in pregnant women with β-thalassemia by a Sysmex XE-2100 automated hematology analyzer and the outcomes were compared with those from healthy pregnant women and from non-pregnant women with β-thalassemia. Results The levels of MCV, MCH, and LFR were lower but the levels of RDW, RET%, RET# , IRF, MFR, and HFR were higher in pregnant women with β-thalassemia than in healthy pregnant women. The levels of MCV, MCH, IRF, MFR and HFR were higher whereas LFR level was lower in pregnant women with β-thalassemia than in non-pregnant women with β-thalassemia. Conclusions The hematopoietic function becomes more active and the changes in erythrocyte and reticulocyte parameters are more obvious in pregnant women with β-thalassemia. MCV, MCH, RDW, RET%, RET#, IRF, LFR, MFR, and HFR can be used as reference markers for screening thalassemia in pregnant women.