What would cause hct and hgb to drop but the retic to fall within normal range?

Question

3yrs. old and has had this condition for over a year now.

Thanks for your answers

Answer 1

The retic is normal in this case because the child's body is not responding properly for being anemic. Based on the hct, hct and retic count it is probably a normocytic anemia. The child is also thrombocytopenic (low platelet count), so that may merit a bone marrow evaluation for aplastic anemia, marrow infiltration, myelodysplastic anemia, etc. Also, bring a copy of the CBC to another pathologist and get a second opinion if you think that the current one isn't competent

Answer 2

Hct (hematocrit) and Hgb (hemoglobin) are indicators of how many mature red blood cells are there.  The reticulocyte count is looking at how many new RBCs are being made--reticulocytes are immature red blood cells.

You need to talk to the child's pediatrician or whichever doctor has run these tests--there's no way to tell just by the general trends on these tests exactly what's going on.  A low Hct and Hbc sounds like anemia, and it's a little concerning if the retic count is not raised in response, but without knowing the actual numbers or anything else, I can only make a general statement--if it *is* anemia, there's no way to say what's causing it.

Please, if this is about your child, talk to the pediatrician and ask what they think is going on.

Answer 3

if retic count is normal the body is still producing cells but they are not healthy or productive. with a hgb of 5.8 why isnt your child in the hospital. transfusions are necessary at 8. that is scary.