RBC Fragments Research Articles

Marathon Running Fails to Influence RBC Survival Rates in Iron-Replete Women.

In brief: As many as 80% of female long-distance runners show iron deficiency. One explanation is RBC fragmentation due to mechanical trauma. In this study, radiolabeling was used to measure RBC survival rates in six iron-replete female marathon runners. In addition, tests for urinary hemosiderin were conducted in a search for secondary evidence of RBC damage. Radioactivity counts on blood samples drawn before and after a standard 26-mile marathon failed to disclose traumatic RBC fragmentation, and the tests for urinary hemosiderin were negative. Other possible factors in iron deficiency, such as diet, therefore merit consideration.

RBC Fragmentation and Thymoma

Thrombocytopenia and hemolytic anemia with fragmented RBCs were discovered in a 70-year-old woman with a large mediastinal mass. Investigation of the cause of the hematologic findings was negative. The mass was surgically excised and proved to be a thymoma of spindle cell type. The hemogram findings returned to normal within a month of surgery. We postulate the thymoma as the source of the RBC fragmentation and thrombocytopenia and explore the relationship between tumors and the hematologic findings.

Microcytosis Caused by RBC Fragmentation

ABNORMALLY low RBC size, expressed as low mean corpuscular volume (MCV), most often is due to iron deficiency or one of the thalassemia syndromes. More rarely, low MCV is associated with pyridoxinesensitive anemia, sideroblastic anemia, anemia of chronic disease,¹and hemoglobinopathies such as CC.²Generally in the latter group microcytosis, if present, is not great. We report a case of a patient with severe burns, considerably low MCV, and none of these diseases. Histograms of RBC size distribution (erythrograms) showed that severe RBC fragmentation caused this patient's low MCV. <h3>Report of a Case</h3> A 2-year-old boy was admitted to the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Burn Center for a 70% total body third-degree scald burn. Despite appropriate intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and topical care, shock became intractable and he died 36 hours later. At admission the hemoglobin level was 14.1 g/dl; hematocrit value, 40.2%; MCV, 63 cuμ; and