Using the hemoglobin content of reticulocytes (RET-He) to evaluate anemia in patients with cancer.

Using the hemoglobin content of reticulocytes (RET-He) to evaluate anemia in patients with cancer.

American journal of clinical pathology (2014-09-23)

Ellinor I B Peerschke, Melissa S Pessin, Peter Maslak

ABSTRACT

Evaluation of anemia, particularly iron deficiency, in patients with cancer is difficult. This study examined using the hemoglobin content of reticulocytes (RET-He) to rule out iron deficiency, as defined by serum iron studies (transferrin saturation <20%, serum iron <40 μg/dL, and ferritin <100 ng/mL), in an unselected cancer patient population. Patients were entered into the study based on the existence of concurrent laboratory test requests for CBC and serum iron studies. Using a threshold of 32 pg/cell, RET-He ruled out iron deficiency with a negative predictive value (NPV) of 98.5% and 100%, respectively, in the study population (n = 209) and in a subpopulation of patients with low reticulocyte counts (n = 19). In comparison, the NPV of traditional CBC parameters (hemoglobin, <11 g/dL; mean corpuscular volume, <80 fL) was only 88.5%. These results support the use of RET-He in the evaluation of iron deficiency in a cancer care setting.

MATERIALS

Product Number

Brand

Product Description

GF65510861

Iron, insulated wire, 20m, conductor diameter 0.25mm, insulation thickness 0.01mm, polyester insulation

GF85443813

Iron, insulated wire, 5m, conductor diameter 0.25mm, insulation thickness 0.01mm, polyester insulation

GF29599138

Iron, foil, 25x25mm, thickness 0.5mm, hard, 99.5%

GF66530594

Iron, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.01mm, 99.85%

F6754

Sigma-Aldrich

Ferritin from human liver, Type IV, 10 μg/mL

C3518

Sigma-Aldrich

Carbonyl iron, ≥97% Fe basis

12310

Sigma-Aldrich

Iron, ≥99%, reduced, powder (fine)

413054

Sigma-Aldrich

Iron, granular, 10-40 mesh, >99.99% trace metals basis

338141

Sigma-Aldrich

Iron, foil, thickness 0.25 mm, ≥99.99% trace metals basis

356824

Sigma-Aldrich

Iron, wire, diam. 1.0 mm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis

GF97671415

Iron, rod, 500mm, diameter 4.8mm, as drawn, 98+%

GF34785995

Iron, tube, 1000mm, outside diameter 1.65mm, inside diameter 0.89mm, wall thickness 0.38mm, as drawn, 99.8+%

GF01122231

Iron, tube, 1000mm, outside diameter 10.0mm, inside diameter 7mm, wall thickness 1.5mm, annealed, 99.5%

GF13515612

Iron, tube, 100mm, outside diameter 25.0mm, inside diameter 21mm, wall thickness 2mm, annealed, 99.5%

GF38499250

Iron, tube, 1000mm, outside diameter 4.0mm, inside diameter 3.6mm, wall thickness 0.2mm, as drawn, 99.5%

GF59365660

Iron, foil, 150x150mm, thickness 3.0mm, as rolled, 99.5%

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Iron, tube, 200mm, outside diameter 1.65mm, inside diameter 0.89mm, wall thickness 0.38mm, as drawn, 99.8+%

GF40279518

Iron, tube, 100mm, outside diameter 12.0mm, inside diameter 9mm, wall thickness 1.5mm, annealed, 99.5%

GF63582970

Iron, tube, 1000mm, outside diameter 2.0mm, inside diameter 1.08mm, wall thickness 0.46mm, as drawn, 99.5%

GF45852105

Iron, tube, 1000mm, outside diameter 1.0mm, inside diameter 0.8mm, wall thickness 0.1mm, as drawn, 99.5%

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Iron, tube, 500mm, outside diameter 2.0mm, inside diameter 1.6mm, wall thickness 0.2mm, as drawn, 99.5%

GF02011509

Iron, tube, 1000mm, outside diameter 6.35mm, inside diameter 5.35mm, wall thickness 0.5mm, as drawn, 99.8%

GF95832816

Iron, tube, 500mm, outside diameter 2.30mm, inside diameter 2.07mm, wall thickness 0.115mm, as drawn, 99.5%

GF07290176

Iron, tube, 100mm, outside diameter 15.0mm, inside diameter 12mm, wall thickness 1.5mm, annealed, 99.5%

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Iron, tube, 1000mm, outside diameter 12.7mm, inside diameter 9.5mm, wall thickness 1.6mm, annealed, 99.5%

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Iron, tube, 500mm, outside diameter 20.0mm, inside diameter 16mm, wall thickness 2.0mm, annealed, 99.5%

GF70344097

Iron, tube, 200mm, outside diameter 3.2mm, inside diameter 2.2mm, wall thickness 0.5mm, as drawn, 99.8%

GF13964575

Iron, foil, 50x50mm, thickness 0.25mm, hard, 99.5%

GF48249210

Iron, tube, 100mm, outside diameter 2.0mm, inside diameter 1.6mm, wall thickness 0.2mm, as drawn, 99.5%

GF48694179

Iron, foil, 300x300mm, thickness 0.38mm, hard, 99.5%