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A simple splenic reticuloendothelial function test: counting erythrocytes with argyrophilic inclusions
K T Tham1, M W Teague, C A Howard
1Department of Pathology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
American Journal of Clinical Pathology
|May 1, 1996
Summary
A new, simple method using silver stain to count erythrocytes with inclusions can effectively assess splenic reticuloendothelial (RE) function. This technique offers a comparable alternative to existing methods without requiring specialized equipment.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Medical Diagnostics
- Immunology
Background:
- Current methods for evaluating splenic reticuloendothelial (RE) function, such as spleen scans and erythrocyte clearance tests, often require specialized equipment, pose risks, or cause patient inconvenience.
- Assessing splenic function is crucial for diagnosing conditions like hyposplenia and asplenia, which can impact immune response and disease susceptibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a simple, accessible method for assessing splenic RE function.
- To compare the efficacy of the novel method against the established gold standard, the pocked erythrocyte count.
Main Methods:
- A novel technique was developed to assess splenic RE function by counting erythrocytes with argyrophilic inclusions using simple silver staining and light microscopy.
- Blood samples were collected from patients with suspected hyposplenia/asplenia (including splenectomy, sickle cell disease/trait, newborns) and healthy controls.
- The novel silver stain method was compared against the pocked erythrocyte count as the gold standard.
Main Results:
- The silver stain method demonstrated highly comparable results to the pocked erythrocyte count, with minimal overlap between control and patient groups.
- The new method achieved a sensitivity of 88.9% and a specificity of 97.1% when compared to the pocked erythrocyte count.
- This technique requires no specialized equipment, can be applied to fresh or Wright-stained smears, and produces permanent slides.
Conclusions:
- The simple silver stain method for counting erythrocytes with inclusions is a valid and effective tool for assessing splenic RE function.
- This method offers a practical, cost-effective, and accessible alternative to conventional diagnostic techniques for splenic function.
- The high sensitivity and specificity, coupled with ease of use, make this a valuable diagnostic approach in various clinical settings.