Correlation of Red Blood Cell Indices and RBC Histogram with Peripheral Blood Smear Findings in Anemia

The advent of automation has made diagnosis of Anemia and to some extent its underlying cause easy. The objective of our study is to correlate RBC indices and RBC Histogram findings with peripheral smear to provide a better approach in accurate diagnosis of Anemia and to analyze their limitations. All cases of Anemia as per WHO reference range of Hemoglobin levels were included in our study. Patients who have received medical treatment for Anemia in past three months, patients having recent history of blood transfusion, patients having Leukemia or Leukemoid reactions were excluded from the study. Venous blood samples collected from these patients were run in SYSMEX automated hematology analyzer and complete blood count, Red Blood Cell (RBC) indices ie, Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) and RBC Histogram were obtained and peripheral smears were examined. Anemia typing was done based on RBC indices and position, shape and skewing of RBC histograms, followed by peripheral smear examination for morphological typing of Anemia. The diagnoses made by peripheral smear versus RBC histogram and indices were compared and analysed

Microcytic hypochromic anemia: Should high performance liquid chromatography be used routinely for screening anemic and antenatal patients.

Background: Hemoglobinopathies are the most common inherited red cell disorders worldwide. Identification of these disorders is immensely important epidemiologically and for improved management protocols. Aim and Objectives: Our aim was to determine the prevalence of hemoglobinopathies in patients with microcytic hypochromic anemia and to assess the suitability of using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) routinely for screening antenatal cases and patients with anemia. Materials and Methods: A total of 4335 cases received from Mar 2007 to Nov 2011 were studied for various hemoglobinopathies and variants on BIO RAD ‘VARIANT’ analyzer. Results: Of the 4335 cases studied, 2119 were antenatal cases, 1710 patients with other disorders and 506 family studies. Of these, 688 cases displayed abnormal hemoglobin fractions on HPLC of which 140 were antenatal women. There were 455 cases of  thalassemia trait, 24 thalassemia major, 20 thalassemia inter-media, 54 sickle cell trait, fi vesickle cell disease, 21 double heterozygous  thalassemia–sickle cell trait, nineand 4 Hb D- Punjab heterozygous and homozygous respectively, three Hb D  Thalassemia trait, 20 and 37 Hb E homozygous and heterozygous respectively, three Hb E  Thalassemia trait and four cases of Hb Q India. Twenty nine adults had isolated HbF elevation. Conclusion: Our study found a high prevalence (15.8%) of hemoglobinopathies amongst microcytic hypochromic anemia and antenatal cases. An accurate diagnosis helps in preventing unnecessary iron loading. Screening all antenatal cases with anemia helps in timely antenatal counseling, thus preventing the psychological trauma of bearing a transfusion dependent child for life.

Reticulocyte Indices for the Differential Diagnosis of Anemia of Chronic Disease and Iron Deficiency Anemia in Adult Women with Microcytic Hypochromic Anemia

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most common anemia followed by anemia of chronic disease (ACD). Reticulocyte indices have been shown to be helpful indicators for detecting IDA. We investigated whether RBC and reticulocyte indices can be used to differentiate ACD from IDA. METHODS: A total of 85 women showing microcytic hypochromic anemia (38 IDA and 47 ACD cases) were enrolled. IDA was defined as those with ferritin level of 450 microg/dL. ACD was defined as ferritin level of > or =6 microg/dL, TIBC of or =24.6 pg could be used to differentiate ACD from IDA with 85.1% sensitivity and 81.6% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The reticulocyte indices, especially CHr, are useful for the differential diagnosis of microcytic hypochromic anemias, ACD and IDA.

A Case of Infective Endocarditis associtaed with Microcytic Hypochromic Anemia

We experienced a case of infective endocarditis, which unusual has symptoms and microcytic hypochromic anemia. Anemia associated with infective endocarditis is a common manifestation, but is generally normocytic nor-mochromic. However, microcytic hypochromic anemia is an uncommon manifestation of infective endo-carditis, and has only been noted in a few previous reports. We systematically evaluated anemia, and diagnosed fatal underlying diseases, such as infective endocarditis.