Reticulocyte - what is it? Reticulocytes: normal

Reticulocyte is a young form of red blood cells, their predecessor. In a healthy person, blood contains from 0.2 to 1.2% of these cells. This is the content of reticulocytes relative to red blood cells. Their ripening time is from 4 to 5 days.

Reticulocyte is what?

A characteristic feature of young forms of red blood cells is the presence in the cytoplasm of a granular filamentous substance, which is an aggregated mitochondria and ribosomes. This substance is detected using a special method of staining blood smears. This staining of reticulocytes is called supravital, i.e. bypassing the preliminary fixation of cells.

Reticulocyte groups

There are five groups of reticulocytes. They differ in the reticular mesh. The thicker the mesh, the younger the reticulocyte.

The youngest reticulocyte is a cell that has a net in the form of a thick ball. Such cells belong to the reticulocytes of the 1st group. More mature reticulocytes appear as a substance in the form of a clearly distinguishable mesh. And in 4-5 groups, it looks like separate threads and grains. Typically, in people who are healthy, the 4th and 5th group of reticulocytes prevail in the blood, i.e. more mature. They make up to 80% of all reticulocytes. But with individual pathologies, when regeneration is enhanced, an increase in 1-3 groups of reticulocytes occurs, i.e. young forms. This is observed with the following pathologies:

• In the case of a reticulocytic crisis with B12-deficient anemia.
• Hemolytic anemia, etc.
• Erythroleukemia.

Reticulocyte function

Reticulocytes perform a function similar to red blood cells, because carry oxygen to various tissues and organs, but the effectiveness of this process is slightly lower in them than in mature red blood cells. Reticulocytes are capable of adsorbing iron molecules contained in hemoglobin due to transferrin receptors.

How is a blood sample taken for reticulocytes?

Suppose you have passed a blood test. Reticulocytes - what is it? With any analysis, are they detected? Blood sampling at this indicator is performed during the general analysis. If necessary, the doctor who prescribed the analysis will indicate in the direction that an additional reticulocyte count should be done.

This analysis does not require special preparation, but it is still customary to take it in the morning on an empty stomach. This analysis can be done at any time of the day, if necessary. Blood is taken from the finger, its study is carried out in the hematology department of the laboratory.

Reticulocyte counting is performed in a supravital stained smear using the microscopic method, i.e. by counting their number under a microscope. In modern laboratories, today there are hardware methods for counting reticulocytes.

How to donate blood to reticulocytes? What is it and where to perform such an analysis? Answers to these questions have been received. Now let's talk about the normal values ​​of this indicator.

Reticulocytes. Designation in analyzes

What is the norm of red blood cells in peripheral blood? Gender differences in the norm are significant only after 11-12 years when calculating such an indicator as reticulocytes in the blood. The norm in children up to this age is the same. After the girls begin regular menstruation, a monthly loss of blood leads to an expansion of the range of oscillations of the cells of the erythroid series.

You can get acquainted with the norm of reticulocytes in peripheral blood in the table below.

What is the evidence of an increase in reticulocytes?

Of particular importance is the determination of the number of reticulocytes in anemia. A condition in which the reticulocytes are elevated is called reticulocytosis. An increase in these cells, accompanied by an increase in hemoglobin, indicates a good regenerative ability of the bone marrow. In particular, reticulocytes are elevated with the following pathologies:

• Hemolytic anemia (diseases in which the destruction of red blood cells occurs - hemolysis) - reticulocytes can be higher than 60%. Especially this indicator increases with hemolytic crises.
• The impact on the body of hemotoxins, in which hemolysis occurs. It can be viper venom or medications used to treat erythremia. Toxins in malaria also cause hemolysis.
  
• Acute posthemorrhagic anemia (after massive blood loss). Reticulocytic crisis usually occurs 3-4 days after blood loss. Sometimes this allows you to detect hidden bleeding, for example, with a stomach ulcer or typhoid fever, etc.
• Polycythemia.
• Malaria.
• Recovery period after chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
• Bone marrow metastases.
• This condition can be observed with an acute lack of oxygen.
• After prescribing a course of vitamin B12 in the treatment of B12-deficient anemia.
• After taking the drug "Erythropoietin", which is used in the treatment of anemia.
• After prolonged use of some antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drugs.
• After the use of "Levodopa" in parkinsonism.
• When smoking.

Distinguish between true and false reticulocytosis.

True and false reticulocytosis

With true reticulocytosis, an increase in young red blood cells in the blood is accompanied by an increased number of them in the bone marrow. This indicates the process of erythropoiesis, i.e. about the true formation of red blood cells.

With false reticulocytosis, reticulocytes increase only in the peripheral blood, and in the bone marrow their number is reduced or remains normal. This may indicate their leaching into the bloodstream from the bone marrow. A similar process is observed with inflammatory or tumor processes in the bone marrow, for example, with metastases.

What does a decrease in reticulocytes indicate?

The number of reticulocytes decreases with inhibition of erythropoiesis. This can occur with pathologies such as:

• Aplastic anemia (life-threatening patient condition).
• B12 deficiency anemia.
• Iron deficiency anemia.
• Folic deficiency anemia.
• Sediroblastic anemia.
• Thalassemia.
• Bone marrow tumor processes.
• Disorders of the thyroid gland (decreased function), for example, with myxedema.
• Severe kidney disease, the consequence of which may be a decrease in erythropoiesis.
• Severe alcoholism, which leads to serious violations of the liver and kidneys.
• Chronic infections
• With uremia - a condition in renal failure, which causes an increased content of nitrogenous substances in the blood.
• After taking certain medications, such as Carbamazepine or Chloramphenicol, as well as with long-term use of sulfonamides.

We found out what a blood cell such as a reticulocyte is. These are young red blood cells, from which a full-fledged red blood cell develops in the future, supplying all tissues and organs of our body with oxygen.