Reticulocytopenia
Reticulocytopenia, is the medical term for an abnormal decrease of reticulocytes in the body. Reticulocytes are new, immature red blood cells.
| Reticulocytopenia | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Aplastic 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.
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
- "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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