title: Size distribution curves of blood cells in thalassemias and hemoglobin H diseases.
abstract: Thalassemias and hemoglobinopathies in Thailand have been examined with a blood cell counter based on electroimpedance principle and obtained size distribution curves of red cells and platelets. Among various disorders, beta-thalassemia/hemoglobin E and homozygous hemoglobin Constant Spring showed severe anemia. Their red cell size distribution curve shifted to the left and overlapped with the platelet size distribution curve. Red cell distribution width expressed by coefficient of variation and the degree of the overlapping were stronger in beta-thalassemia/HbE than HbH. Heterozygous beta-thalassemia showed a narrow red cell distribution curve width with small standard deviation and low England's value. Although the overlapping of size distribution curves cause inaccurate red cell count and platelet count, careful observation of the size distribution curves was proved to have high diagnostic value.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Laboratory Medicine, City University Medical School, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tatsumi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsuda
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Funahara
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bunyaratvej
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Siritanakul
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fucharoen
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004906:Erythrocyte Count / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D004913:Erythrocytes, Abnormal / Q000473:pathology*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006446:Hemoglobin E; D006453:Hemoglobinopathies / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008403:Mass Screening; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal; D006446:Hemoglobin E; C035541:Hemoglobin Constant Spring