Reticulocytes: new life for an old haematological parameter

Key words: Reticulocytes, Anaemia, Modern flow-cytometers

The paper describes the usefulness of reticulocyte count in the diagnosis and management of anaemia. Reticulocytes are immature red cells that do not have the nucleus, but hold residual extranuclear RNA. In traditional morphologic examination, reticulocytes can be visualized only with a dye able to stain nucleic acids. Modern flow-cytometers make accurate and rapid reticulocyte count. In clinical practice this count is particularly useful to diagnose haemolityc anaemias that show high count and to evaluate the response to treatment of patients with iron-deficiency-anaemia.