AJHE2111 - CME/CMLE - Interindividual Biological Variability of Reticulocytes and Their Maturation Fractions in the Pediatric Population-Interindividual Biological Variability of Reticulocytes and Their Maturation Fractions in the Pediatric Population

Interindividual Biological Variability of Reticulocytes and Their Maturation Fractions in the Pediatric Population

Pdf Summary

The study by Fernando J. Bracho analyzes the interindividual biological variability of reticulocytes, immature reticulocyte fractions, and related parameters in pediatric patients. The research aims to establish normal values by age and sex groups in children. Results from 9,362 pediatric CBC counts show that the automated reticulocyte count decreases from 2 months to 3 years and then slowly increases. Differences by sex are observed, with higher values in girls up to 9 years. The immature reticulocyte fraction initially increases, then decreases until 4 years, and subsequently rises modestly, with higher values in boys older than 1 year. The low-fluorescence fraction remains relatively steady, with higher values in girls aged 8 months and older. The study highlights how these variations are significant in pediatric patients and vital when developing reference values for children. Analyzing the trend of these parameters provides valuable information for assessing erythropoietic activity, an important aspect in diagnosing anemia and monitoring treatments. The study addresses the challenges related to standardizing reticulocyte counts due to different technologies and sensitivities, emphasizing the need for age- and sex-specific reference ranges. The research utilizes a large sample size, enhancing the statistical power and reliability of the findings despite certain methodological constraints. The study concludes that understanding the biological variability of reticulocytes in children is crucial for clinical assessment and future research in this population.

Keywords

Fernando J. Bracho

interindividual biological variability

reticulocytes

immature reticocyte fractions

pediatric patients

normal values

age groups

sex groups

erythropoietic activity

anemia diagnosis