title: Clinical interpretation of reticulocyte hemoglobin content, RET-Y, in chronic hemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Iron deficiency is the most common factor associated with erythropoietin (EPO) hyporesponsiveness. Current iron indices are inadequate to demonstrate the status or utility of iron in erythropoiesis. The aims of this study are to investigate the value of the reticulocyte hemoglobin content, RET-Y, in hemodialysis (HD) patients and compare the levels with conventional iron indices.
  
  
  METHODS
  HD patients (n = 289) were divided into 4 groups according to serum ferritin (cutoff value 100 ng/ml) and transferrin saturation (TSAT, cutoff value 20%). The RET-Y value, hemogram and biochemical data were determined and compared between groups. Factors associated with RET-Y were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean RET-Y value was 1,716 +/- 125 AU. Patients with absolute iron deficiency had lower RET-Y levels and mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Patients with functional iron deficiency had a lower reticulocyte production index and serum albumin levels. MCV, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and albumin were independently correlated with the RET-Y level (all p < 0.001). EPO-independent patients had low iron indices and low RET-Y levels, but a higher reticulocyte production index and albumin levels were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RET-Y levels in HD patients were close to that of the normal population. Low RET-Y levels were observed in patients with absolute iron deficiency and also in EPO-independent patients with low ferritin and low TSAT. There was a strong association between the serum albumin and RET-Y levels in chronic HD patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, 123 Ta-Pei Road, Niao-Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung Hsien 833, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hwee-Yeong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Hung-Chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lin-Lin
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Yu-Che
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Kao-Tai
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Shang-Chih
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Fong-Rong
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Jin-Bor
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chien-Te
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins