Reticulocyte hemoglobin content and iron deficiency: a retrospective study in adults

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 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. 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.