ASSESSMENT OF IMMATURE RETICULOCYTE FRACTION (IRF) WITH ABSOLUTE RETICULOCYTE COUNT (ARC) AS A RESPONSE MARKER IN ANTEPARTUM PATIENTS WITH NUTRITIONAL ANEMIA

Abstract

Background: Peripheral blood reticulocyte count is an important index in the diagnosis, classication, and monitoring of anemic patients. After initiation of therapy, reticulocytosis develops within 3 to 7 days th th 1 and peaks (8–10%) between the 8 and 10 day . The IRF (Immature Reticulocyte Fraction) increases several days before reticulocyte count and is thus an early indicator of response to therapy. Aim: To study the response of therapy using IRF on day rd th th th 3 - 4 and day7 - 8 in antenatal patients with nutritional anemia. To correlate ARC (Absolute Reticulocyte Count) with IRF after therapy in antenatal patients with nutritional anemia. Study design: Prospective, analytical observational study. Materials and Methods: A total of 63 pregnant women with nutritional anemia were enrolled. Baseline samples for RBC indices, ARC and IRF were taken and treated with parental iron and Vit B12 injection accordingly. Baseline, 3rd - 4th and 7th – 8th day of therapy, values of hematological parameters along with ARC and IRF for predicting the response were determined. Results: The rise in mean ARC and IRF from baseline to day3/4 and day7/8 is signicantly higher in responders. There was a signicant positive correlation between IRF and ARC at baseline, day3/4 and day7/8. Conclusion: IRF and ARC increase in nutritional anemia in subjects, as early as 3-4 days post-therapy, however ARC on day 3-4 is an accurate prediction of response to therapy as evaluated on day 7-day 8 in the present study