Reticulocyte hemoglobin content and iron deficiency: a retrospective study in adults.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the reticulocyte hemoglobin content (CHr) in a total of 260 adult patients having anemia of chronic disease (ACD), iron deficiency anemia, and chronic renal failure (CRF) who enrolled at the King Khalid University Hospital (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).


RESULTS
Results from this study showed that there was a significant correlation between the CHr and hematological parameters, like hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin, and red blood cell distribution. In addition, a significant correlation was seen between the CHr and biochemical parameters for iron status like serum iron, transferrin saturation, and total iron-binding capacity.


CONCLUSIONS
The CHr, together with a complete blood count, may provide an alternative to the traditional hematological or biochemical panels for the diagnosis of absolute iron deficiency and functional iron deficiency in the case of ACD and the anemia associated with CRF.
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ali Ahmed
AA
Ageeli
Farjah Hassan
FH
Algahtani
Abbas H
AH
Alsaeed
D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia
D006454:Hemoglobins; D007501:Iron