The significance of automated reticulocyte multiple parameters analysis in thalassemia

ObjectiveTo investigate the reference value range of automated reticulocyte multiple parameters analysis in Chinese healthy, to discuss changes and clinical significances of these parameters in thalassemia patients. MethodsAutomated reticulocyte counting(7parameters) have been measured in 66 healthy controls and in 33 thalassemia patients with Coulter-GENS. system2 automated blood cell counter. ResultsThe reference ranges of automated reticulocyte multiple parameters analysis in normal healthy are:RET% 1.340.42(0.86%1.82%);RET# 0.0590.019(0.0360.082);IRF 0.30.04(0.260.34);HLR% 0.380.12(0.24%0.52%);HLR# 0.0170.005(0.010.024);MRV 1138(106120);MSCV 917(8597). There were significant differences between normol subjects and thalassemia patients in most of the parameters. RET%, RET#, HLR% and HLR# in thalassemia patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls, otherwise, MRV and MSCV were obviously decreased in thalassemia patients. There are some correlations between the changes of reticulocyte multiple parameters and the severity of patients. ConclusionsThe increased proportion of immature reticulocytes in thalassemia patients might be one of the main reasons of ineffective erythropoiesis. Automated reticulocyte multiple parameters analysis can give information about severity of thalassemia to some distance.