BACKGROUND: Reticulocyte counts provide clinically useful informations and the most widely used method for counting reticulocytes is a manual microscopic procedure. Although manual method is inexpensive and relatively simple to perform, it is labor intensive and imprecise. So, more rapid and more reproducible methods are needed. METHODS: Reticulocyte counts on 96 blood samples were performed by conventional manual method, H*3 RTX(TM)(Bayer, U.S.A.), and FACScan(TM)(Beckon Dickinson, U.S.A.). The changes of reticulocyte count after storage of samples and certain time intervals after preparation were also examined. RESULTS: Reticulocyte counts(%) by manual method, H*3 RTX(TM), and FACScanM were 2.05+/-2.16, 1.95+/-2.24 and 2.51+/-1.94, respectively. There was no statistically significant differences between manual counting and H*3 RTX(TM)(P>0.05). However, there were significant differences between H*3 RTX(TM) and FACScan(TM), manual counting and FACScan(TM)(P<0.05). Correlation coefficients of three comparisons were all above 0.920. Statistically not confirmed the reticulocytosis sample showed decreasing tendency of reticuocyte count by H*3 RTX(TM) after storage of the sample and prepared sample and others were relatively stable in H*3 RTX(TM)and FACScan(TM). CONCLUSIONS: The result of the mean difference between H*3 RTX(TM) and manual counting is statistically insignificant. So, the H*3 RTX(TM)can be used interchangeably with manual counting atter consideration of cost-effectiveness.
Reticulocyte Count ; Reticulocytes* ; Reticulocytosis

Anemia in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is accompanied by reticulocytopenia in most patients. Reticulocytosis, when present, is generally less than appropriate to the degree of anemia and rarely exceeds 10%. In this report, three patients with MDS with persistent reticulocytosis are presented. In vitro reticulocyte survival studies have suggested that the reticulocytosis was caused by delay in maturation of the reticulocytes. Anemia with reticulocytosis, mimicking hemolytic disease, may be an unusual presentation of myelodysplastic syndrome, but, we emphasize that MDS should be included in the differential diagnosis of every patient presenting with anemia and high reticulocyte count. In vitro reticulotye survival study is easy to assess and valuable to diagnose this disease entity.
Anemia ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes* ; Reticulocyte Count ; Reticulocytes* ; Reticulocytosis

A retrospective study was made of the previous medical records of 47 infants with congenital syphilis born from mothers with untreated syphilis at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine during the years 1972 through 1983 The VDRL titer of these infants was higher than 1: 8 with reactive FT.A-ABS test. They were subjectd to hematologic examinations and the results were as follow s, 1. Of 46 infants with congenital syphilis, anemia was observed in thirty-one (68%) Reticulocytosis occurred in seventeen(89%) of nineteen infants with congenital syphilis having the mean value of 6. 0%. 3, Of 4.7 infants with congenital syphilis, leucocytosis was noted in seveenteen 4, Thrombocytopenia was observed in twenty (64%) of thirty-one infants with congenital syphilis.
Anemia ; Humans ; Infant ; Medical Records ; Mothers ; Reticulocytosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Syphilis ; Syphilis, Congenital* ; Thrombocytopenia

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a group of hematopoietic disorders characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and peripheral cytopenia associated with dysplastic hypercellular marrow. Anemia is a frequent finding and reticulocytes are usually normal or slightly decreased in the patients with MDS. "Pseudoreticulocytosis" is a rare abnormality of patients with MDS. In these patients, the delayed maturation of reticulocytes is revealed and unusual reticulocytosis occurs with the decreased red cell production. We report a case of MDS characterized by the anemia associated with high reticulocyte count. 'In vitro reticulocyte survival test' showed that the reticulocytosis was a consequence of delayed maturation.
Anemia ; Bone Marrow ; Hematopoiesis ; Humans ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes* ; Reticulocyte Count ; Reticulocytes ; Reticulocytosis

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is a rare hematological disorder characterized by severe normochromic normocytic anemia and reticulocytopenia due to erythroid progenitor depletion in an otherwise normal bone marrow. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is caused by autoantibodies directed against red blood cells with normocytic or macrocytic anemia with reticulocytosis. Both diseases can develop in conjunction with various underlying diseases, such as immunological disorders. Although rare, there have been a few cases of AIHA followed by PRCA. Here, we report a patient who developed PRCA following AIHA and was later diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Anemia ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune* ; Anemia, Macrocytic ; Autoantibodies ; Bone Marrow ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure* ; Reticulocytosis

5 cases of lead poisoning were investigated clinically. Of the 5 patients, 4 were male and 1 was female. The causes of lead poisoning in 3 cases were ingestion of herb drug pills and in 2 cases were occupational poisoning. Chief complain at admission in 4 cases were ill defined colicky abdominal pain and constipation. Only 1 case complained of dizziness and palpitation without gastrointestinal symptom. On peripheral blood, normocytic normochromic anemia (mean Hgb 9.2 gm/dl), reticulocytosis (mean 4.7%) and basophilic stippling were found in 100% of patients. Bone marrow aspiration was done in 4 cases. Erythroid hyperplasia and basophilic stippling were found in all 4 cases. Mean M:E ratio was 0.7:1. The lead concentration in serum was increased in 4 cases (80%) of patients. Lead concentration, delta aminolevulinic acid concentration in 24 hours collected urine were increased in 5 patients (100%).
Abdominal Pain ; Aminolevulinic Acid ; Anemia ; Basophils ; Bone Marrow ; Constipation ; Dizziness ; Eating ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Lead Poisoning* ; Male ; Poisoning ; Reticulocytosis

BACKGROUND: Studies on the hematologic toxicity of ethylene glycol ethers in humans are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the association between exposure to solvents (containing 2-butoxyethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol) and hematological effects. METHODS: Thirty-four screen-printing workers who were exposed to 2-butoxyethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol and 37 non-exposed clerical workers were selected using data from the health care facilities that provided regular health screening services. Student's t-tests and Pearson's chi-square tests were used to compare differences in hematological parameters between the exposed and the control groups. A multivariate analysis was performed using the multiple logistic regression models to adjust for other variables. RESULTS: The chi-square test showed the reticulocyte percentages and corrected reticulocyte counts to be significantly higher in the exposed group. The t-tests showed a significant increase in white blood cell counts, reticulocyte percentages, and corrected reticulocyte count (i.e., reticulocyte index) in the exposed group, with p-values of 0.002, 0.004, and 0.002, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed the odds ratio for the corrected reticulocyte counts to be 16.30 for the exposed group, when compared with that of the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to 2-butoxyethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol was significantly associated with reticulocytosis, necessitating the implementation of preventive measures for workers prone to occupational exposure to ethylene glycol ethers.
Clergy ; Delivery of Health Care ; Ether ; Ethers ; Ethylene Glycol ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Multivariate Analysis ; Occupational Exposure ; Odds Ratio ; Reticulocyte Count ; Reticulocytes ; Reticulocytosis* ; Solvents

Among the erythrocyte membrane defects, hereditary spherocytosis is the most common. The erythrocyte membrane defect results from a deficiency of spectrin, the most important structural protein in red cell. Hereditary spherocytosis often presents with hemolytic anemia, jaundice, moderate splenomegaly. Diagnosis is established by the presence of spherocytes in the peripheral blood, reticulocytosis, an increased osmotic fragility, and a negative Coombs test. In children, splenectomy is usually performed after age 6 years but can be done at a younger age if warranted by the severity of the anemia and the need for frequent transfusions. In the period December 1987 to Agust 1993, 9 patients with hereditrary spherocytosis underwent splenectomy and the following results were obtained. 1. Nine patients were comprised of five males and four females. 2. Five patients(55.6%) had been admitted to our hospital during age 6-10 years. 3. Four of the nine patients had autosomal dominant inheritance with variable expression. The other five patients had no known inheritance. 4. The diagnosis of the spherocytosis was based on the increased osmotic fragility and increased autohemolysis of the erythrocytes, as well as on the appearance of spherocytes in the peripheral blood smear. 5. In all cases splenectomy was performed. Two patients had concomitant gall stones and choledocholithiasis, respectively. One patient with concomitant gall stones underwent simultaneous cholecystectomy and splenectomy. The other patients associated with choledocholithiasis underwent splenectomy, cholecystectomy, choledocholithotomy, and T-tube drainage. 6. Complete hematologic recovery was obtained by the splenectomy in all cases. 7. Postoperative complication was not occurred.
Anemia ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Child ; Cholecystectomy ; Choledocholithiasis ; Coombs Test ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Erythrocyte Membrane ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Male ; Osmotic Fragility ; Postoperative Complications ; Reticulocytosis ; Spectrin ; Spherocytes ; Splenectomy* ; Splenomegaly ; Wills

The authors presented a 17 months old female with malignant osteopetrosis, who was admitted to the Pediatric Department of Kyung Hee University Hospital on May, 1981 because of epistaxis and growth retardation. Diagnosis was made by typical clinical manifestations, hematologic and radiologic findings, such as frontal bossing, opened anterior fontanel, exophalmoses, strabismus, optic atropy, marked hepatosplenomegaly, severe anemia, thrombocytopenia, reticulocytosis and typical mask sign and sun burst sign at the skull X-ray, wide dense ribs with fracture at the vertebrae, clubbings at the distal parts of the femurs and radii and at the proximal parts of the tibias and humerii transverse bands at the metaphyses, and finally increased density of the entire skeleton on the bone scanning and marked decrease uptake of 99mTc on the bone marrow scanning. Prednisolone was administrated orally, resulted in gradual improvement of hematologic abnormalities to the normal range, associated wited with increased cellularity of the bone marrow and increased uptake of 99mTc and decreased spleen size on the bone marrow scanning after one month of therapy.
Anemia ; Bone Marrow ; Cranial Fontanelles ; Diagnosis ; Epistaxis ; Female ; Femur ; Humans ; Infant ; Masks ; Osteopetrosis* ; Prednisolone ; Reference Values ; Reticulocytosis ; Ribs ; Skeleton ; Skull ; Solar System ; Spine ; Spleen ; Strabismus ; Thrombocytopenia ; Tibia

The authors presented a 17 months old female with malignant osteopetrosis, who was admitted to the Pediatric Department of Kyung Hee University Hospital on May, 1981 because of epistaxis and growth retardation. Diagnosis was made by typical clinical manifestations, hematologic and radiologic findings, such as frontal bossing, opened anterior fontanel, exophalmoses, strabismus, optic atropy, marked hepatosplenomegaly, severe anemia, thrombocytopenia, reticulocytosis and typical mask sign and sun burst sign at the skull X-ray, wide dense ribs with fracture at the vertebrae, clubbings at the distal parts of the femurs and radii and at the proximal parts of the tibias and humerii transverse bands at the metaphyses, and finally increased density of the entire skeleton on the bone scanning and marked decrease uptake of 99mTc on the bone marrow scanning. Prednisolone was administrated orally, resulted in gradual improvement of hematologic abnormalities to the normal range, associated wited with increased cellularity of the bone marrow and increased uptake of 99mTc and decreased spleen size on the bone marrow scanning after one month of therapy.
Anemia ; Bone Marrow ; Cranial Fontanelles ; Diagnosis ; Epistaxis ; Female ; Femur ; Humans ; Infant ; Masks ; Osteopetrosis* ; Prednisolone ; Reference Values ; Reticulocytosis ; Ribs ; Skeleton ; Skull ; Solar System ; Spine ; Spleen ; Strabismus ; Thrombocytopenia ; Tibia