Reticulocytes

Reticulocytes are young forms of erythrocytes containing a granular-filamentous substance, revealed by means of a special supravital stain. The maturation time of reticulocytes is 4-5 days, of which they mature in the peripheral blood for 3 days, after which they become mature erythrocytes.

Reticulocytes are "newborn", immature red blood cells. Reticulocytes originate in the most important organ where all new blood cells are actually formed - the bone marrow. It is there that, as a result of the division and differentiation of stem cells, red blood cells appear and undergo all stages of maturation.

Newborn red blood cells contain a fragile network of microscopic blood vessels - reticulum, from which the name of young red cells comes. Originating in the bone marrow, reticulocytes mature in it for several more days, and then move to the blood of the vessels - peripheral. There they also mature for one or two days, rapidly "growing up". It is interesting that mature red blood cells leave a field for the circulation of a small number of reticulocytes, no more than 2%. Thus, almost every other day the "family" of red blood cells is replenished with fresh, new bodies. The human body is designed so wisely that it tries to adhere to a constant scheme of red blood cell circulation. The life of each red blood cell lasts no more than 3 months, but due to the constant partial renewal, the general system does not suffer. Old and worn-out red blood cells are utilized by the lymphoid system, more precisely by the spleen, and new ones – reticulocytes – are generated in the bone marrow every two days. There is a kind of “dispatcher” for this continuous flow – a hormone secreted by the kidneys, erythropoietin. The control occurs in the following way:

When the amount of much-needed oxygen in the blood decreases, the kidney releases erythropoietin, which is transported by the bloodstream to the "maternity hospital" of red blood cells, to the main system - the bone marrow. Erythropoietin is a stimulator for the formation of reticulocytes. If the hematopoietic organ "overdoes it" and there are too many red blood cells, erythropoietin immediately stops being produced by the renal system.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ], [ 7 ], [ 8 ], [ 9 ]

What is the purpose of the test that determines "newborn" reticulocytes?

• Firstly, it is an extremely important indicator of the state of the bone marrow and its regenerative capacity;
• Secondly, reticulocytes, or rather their number, show the effectiveness of therapeutic measures for different forms of anemia;
• Thirdly, to evaluate and test the function of the spleen or kidney function after transplantation.

Analysis is also important for sports competitions when participants are tested for doping.

For example, reticulocytes begin to actively displace their more mature brothers - erythrocytes, their number increases. Such activity may indicate the correct strategy in the treatment of anemia or, conversely, the fact of blood loss in the body if therapy is not carried out. Also, for quite understandable reasons, the number of "young" erythrocytes increases in pregnant women.

A reduced number of reticulocytes, as well as their disappearance, indicates a serious blood pathology and the ineffectiveness of therapy. The bone marrow does not cope with its functions, its condition is characterized as depressed.

In addition, reticulocytes are an indicator of the speed of the main organ of hematopoiesis – the bone marrow.

How is the reticulocyte index calculated?

In order to accurately assess the stage of anemia, the degree of its severity is calculated by the reticulocyte index using a special formula:

The percentage of reticulocytes is multiplied by the hematocrit value. Then the result is divided by the product of 45 and 1.85. 45 is the normal hematocrit level, and 1.85 is the average period during which new reticulocytes enter the blood.

What does it mean when reticulocytes are elevated?

An increased number of reticulocytes is called reticulocytosis in medicine. This can be a sign of diseases and problems:

• Acute blood loss;
• Hemolytic syndrome (hemolytic anemia);
• Active therapy of thiamine-dependent anemia;
• Effective treatment of iron deficiency anemia;
• Paroxysmal infection - malaria;
• Hypoxia.

If reticulocytes are low, this may indicate diseases such as:

• Myelodysplasia or aplastic anemia;
• Hypoplastic pathology of bone marrow – hypoplastic anemia;
• Ineffectiveness of therapy for megaloblastic (B12-dependent) anemia;
• Autoimmune pathologies;
• Chronic alcoholism;
• Kidney pathologies.

If you have received the results of clinical blood tests and decided to interpret them yourself, then at best you will simply get confused, at worst you will experience unnecessary anxiety. Therefore, it is best to hand over the form, where reticulocytes and other components of the blood are described and calculated, to the reliable hands of a professional. The doctor who sent you for the test will explain all the details, because it was he who was interested in your reticulocytes.