Analysis of red cell parameters on the Sysmex XE 2100 and ADVIA 120 in iron deficiency and in uraemic chronic disease.

OBJECTIVE: The percentage measurement of hypochromic red cells (HYPO) and reticulocyte haemoglobin content (CHr) using the ADVIA system has recently been validated as a useful tool in indicating iron deficiency, also in cases of chronic diseases such as renal failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent to which the red cell parameters, RBC-Y and RET-Y, provided by Sysmex XE 2100, correlate with HYPO and CHr. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The laboratory markers of iron status were evaluated together with HYPO, CHr, RBC-Y and RET-Y in 92 healthy subjects (C), 42 iron-deficient patients (ID) and 88 uraemic patients receiving regular dialysis treatment (RDT). RESULTS: In ID patients, increased HYPO and decreased RBC-Y, CHr and RET-Y values, with no overlapping with reference values, were found and a significant correlation was present between ADVIA 120 and Sysmex indices (p<0.001 for each correlation). In RDT patients, HYPO median values were increased with a wide distribution of values (95 % reference range = 0.7-27.5 % and 0.7-22.6 % in men and women, respectively). In contrast, RBC-Y was normal/increased (95 % reference range = 169.4-191.1 and 168.7-190.5 in men and women, respectively), even though there was a significant correlation between them (p<0.001). CHr and RET-Y values were within the reference range; moreover, in these patients mean cell volume of red cells and of reticulocytes (MCV and MCVr) median values were increased. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed the validity of RBC-Y in the management of ID, but not in RDT, where the diagnostic power of RBC-Y as an index of cell hypochromia is limited owing to high MCV values.

Hematological status in a group of male athletes of different sports.

Suboptimal hematological status has been often recorded in athletes involved in intense physical activity, particularly in middle and long distance runners. It appeared therefore interesting the study and comparison of athletes groups of different sports. One hundred eighty-one male athletes were tested and divided into seven groups according to sport exercise: cross-country skiing, cycling, fencing and tennis (joined together), rowing, running, soccer, swimming. For every athletes erythrocyte and hemoglobin blood concentration, hematocrit, serum iron, transferrin, ferritin and haptoglobin concentration were measured, the mean cell volume and serum iron/transferrin ratio were calculated. Data were compared to find out correlation indices and then grouped according to the practised sport. Statistical indices were computed for each group and for all parameter and analysis of variance was carried out to value the significativity of found differences. The only parameter showing statistically significant differences among groups was the serum level of haptoglobin, with mean value significantly lower in runners. The evidence of this study suggests that individual variability for the remaining parameters exceeds any variation possibly induced by different sport practices.