Reticulocyte Hemoglobin Equivalent (Ret-He) as a Potential Diagnostic Marker of Iron Deficiency Anemia among Bangladeshi Adults

M Morsed Zaman Miah; Md Enayet Ali Pramanik; M Abdur Rafi; Mira Akhter

doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10018-1410

Reticulocyte Hemoglobin Equivalent (Ret-He) as a Potential Diagnostic Marker of Iron Deficiency Anemia among Bangladeshi Adults

Euroasian J Hepatogastroenterol. 2023 Jul-Dec;13(2):128-132. doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10018-1410.

Authors

M Morsed Zaman Miah¹, Md Enayet Ali Pramanik², M Abdur Rafi³, Mira Akhter⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Haematology, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
² On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
³ Department of Medicine, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
⁴ Department of Pathology, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.

Abstract

Anemia involving a variety of etiological sources constitutes a common side effect of long-term liver diseases. Anemia caused by an iron deficiency (IDA) is a prominent kind of anemia among various other types. Blood ferritin levels and other iron-related indicators can be used to identify anemia. On the other hand, it is now possible to quantify reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent (Ret-He), which indicates the reticulocyte iron concentration. It would be useful to diagnose IDA immediately if Ret-He could evaluate the ID. The effectiveness of Ret-He to diagnose ID in Bangladeshi patients was investigated in an ongoing study. Whole bloodstream numbers, blood ferritin phases, and Ret-He concentrations were measured in a cohort of 215 Bangladeshi people. Hemoglobin (Hb) values less than 12 gm/dL were considered anemia. An individual was classified as iron deficient if their blood ferritin concentration was below 12 ng/mL. Participants were split into four groups for this study: non-ID groups with anemia, IDA, ID, and control groups. In comparison to patients with IDA and ID, the concentrations of Ret-He showed a downward tendency. Serum Ret-He levels were correlated with ferritin levels in the subjects. The measurement of the area around the intercept (AUC) for Ret-He on the ROC curve was 0.906, suggesting a correlation with diagnosis. The study's results provide optimism for the therapeutic use of Ret-He value as an indicator for identification in Bangladeshi patients.

How to cite this article: Miah MMZ, Pramanik MEA, Rafi MA, et al. Reticulocyte Hemoglobin Equivalent (Ret-He) as a Potential Diagnostic Marker of Iron Deficiency Anemia among Bangladeshi Adults. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2023;13(2):128-132.

Keywords: Anemia; Iron deficiency anemia; Ret-He; Sysmex.