Reticulocytopenia

Reticulocytopenia is the medical term for an abnormal decrease of reticulocytes in the body. Reticulocytes are new, immature red blood cells.

Reticulocytopenia
Other namesAplastic crisis, Marrow failure

Causes

Reticulocytopenia is usually a result of viral parvovirus B19 infection, which invades and destroys red blood cell precursors and halts the red cell production.

If infection occurs in individuals with sickle cell anemia,[1] spherocytosis, or beta thalassemia, it will lead to incorporation of two anemia-induced mechanisms: decreased red cell production and hemolysis. The result is a rapid and severe anemia (aplastic crisis) which may require blood transfusion.

Diagnosis

See also
  • Erythropoiesis – process of creating red blood cells
  • Hemolytic anemia – reduced number of red blood cells due to destruction of the cells after they were made
  • Nutritional anemia – reduced number of red blood cells due to vitamin deficiency or other dietary factors

References
  1. "Sickle Cell Disease - Basic Principles and Clinical Practice" Edited by Stephen H. Embury, Robert P. Hebbel, Narla Mohandas and Martin Steinberg. Copyright 1996 by Lippincott-Raven. Section IV p352.


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