| Abstract: | Reticulocyte hemoglobin content (CHr) is considered an index of iron status, helpful in the differential diagnosis of microcytoses. Its potential can be enhanced by comparing CHr dynamic reference values (CHr‐e: expected CHr), which are proportional to the MCVr variations occurring in micro‐ or macrocytosis, with measured CHr values. We demonstrate that the difference between measured CHr and CHr‐e (ΔCHr) is helpful to differentiate the anemic syndromes and, in particular, β‐talassemia vs. presumable sideropenia. ΔCHr can also indicate when to interrupt iron supplementation. ΔCHr allows an insight into the erythropoiesis of thalassemic and sideropenic subjects, pointing out the reduced hemoglobin production and ineffective erythroid activity in these conditions. |
