title: Delta-CHr improves the identification of anemic syndromes and the evaluation of hemoglobin synthesis.
abstract: Reticulocyte hemoglobin content (CHr) is considered an index of iron status, helpful in the differential diagnosis of microcytoses. Its potential can be enhanced by comparing CHr dynamic reference values (CHr-e: expected CHr), which are proportional to the MCVr variations occurring in micro- or macrocytosis, with measured CHr values. We demonstrate that the difference between measured CHr and CHr-e (DeltaCHr) is helpful to differentiate the anemic syndromes and, in particular, beta-thalassemia vs. presumable sideropenia. DeltaCHr can also indicate when to interrupt iron supplementation. DeltaCHr allows an insight into the erythropoiesis of thalassemic and sideropenic subjects, pointing out the reduced hemoglobin production and ineffective erythroid activity in these conditions.
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliera S. Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona, via P. Del Pezzo 54, 84100 Salerno, Italy. lcatalan@unina.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vicinanza
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pollio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vicinanza
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Chiara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buonanno
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Renzo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rotoli
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins