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Reference intervals for reticulocyte hemoglobin content in healthy infants
Anders Löfving1, Magnus Domellöf2, Lena Hellström-Westas3
1Department of Pediatrics, Hospital of Halland, Halmstad, Sweden.
Pediatric Research
|August 25, 2018
Summary
This study establishes reference intervals for reticulocyte hemoglobin content (Ret-He) in healthy infants, a key indicator for early iron deficiency detection. These findings aid in standardizing Ret-He as a pre-anemia biomarker in pediatrics.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Hematology
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood iron deficiency anemia is a significant global health concern.
- Reticulocyte hemoglobin content (Ret-He) is an emerging biomarker for iron deficiency, but pediatric reference intervals are lacking.
- Establishing these intervals is crucial for early detection and management of iron deficiency in infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine reference intervals for Reticulocyte Hemoglobin Content (Ret-He) in healthy infants.
- To provide foundational data for standardizing Ret-He as a biomarker for pre-anemia iron deficiency in children.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study involving 456 healthy Swedish infants born at term.
- Ret-He measurements were taken at birth (umbilical cord), 48-72 hours, 4 months, and 12 months.
- Reference intervals were calculated using the mean ±2 standard deviations.
Main Results:
- Established reference intervals for Ret-He across different infant age points (e.g., 27.4-36.0 pg/L at birth, 24.9-34.1 pg/L at 12 months).
- Significantly lower Ret-He levels were observed in iron-deficient infants at 4 and 12 months.
- Mean Ret-He differences in iron-deficient infants were -4.2 pg/L at 4 months and -3.4 pg/L at 12 months.
Conclusions:
- The study provides the first reference intervals for Ret-He in non-anemic, non-iron-deficient infants.
- These data represent a significant step towards the clinical standardization of Ret-He.
- Ret-He can serve as a valuable pre-anemia biomarker for iron deficiency in pediatric populations.
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