Why high reticulocyte count

A warm compress can be used several times a day to treat this. Results A reticulocyte count is a blood test that measures how fast red blood cells called reticulocytes are made by the bone marrow and released into the blood.

Normal The reticulocyte count is given as the percentage of red blood cells that are reticulocytes the number of reticulocytes divided by the total number of red blood cells, multiplied by Results are ready in 1 day. Reticulocyte count footnote 1 Adults: 0.

This can occur after a lot of bleeding, a move to a high altitude, or certain types of anemia. The reticulocyte count rises after the treatment for pernicious anemia , iron deficiency anemia , or folic acid deficiency anemia starts working.

Low values A low reticulocyte count may mean fewer red blood cells are being made by the bone marrow. This can be caused by aplastic anemia or other types of anemia, such as iron deficiency anemia.

A low reticulocyte count can also be caused by exposure to radiation, a long-term chronic infection, or by certain medicines that damage the bone marrow. What Affects the Test Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include: Taking certain medicines. Medicines that affect the results include ones used for Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, fevers, malaria, and cancer chemotherapy.

Getting radiation therapy. Taking sulfonamide antibiotics such as Septra. Being pregnant. Having a recent blood transfusion. What To Think About In anemia, the reticulocyte count will be abnormal because the levels of red blood cells and hemoglobin are low. Also, reticulocytes make up a higher percentage of the blood count in anemia, which makes the reticulocyte count falsely high. For this reason, a doctor will check the reticulocyte count along with the reticulocyte index RI when checking for anemia.

The RI is a measurement for reticulocytes when anemia is present. Why It Is Done A reticulocyte count is done to: See whether anemia is caused by fewer red blood cells being made or by a greater loss of red blood cells. Check how well bone marrow is working to make red blood cells. Check to see if treatment for anemia is working.

For example, a higher reticulocyte count means that iron replacement treatment or other treatment to reverse the anemia is working. How To Prepare You do not need to do anything before you have this test.

How It Is Done The health professional drawing blood will: Wrap an elastic band around your upper arm to stop the flow of blood. This makes the veins below the band larger so it is easier to put a needle into the vein. Clean the needle site with alcohol. Put the needle into the vein. More than one needle stick may be needed. Attach a tube to the needle to fill it with blood. Remove the band from your arm when enough blood is collected.

Put a gauze pad or cotton ball over the needle site as the needle is removed. Put pressure on the site and then put on a bandage. How It Feels The blood sample is taken from a vein in your arm. Risks There is very little chance of a problem from having a blood sample taken from a vein. You may get a small bruise at the site. You can lower the chance of bruising by keeping pressure on the site for several minutes. In rare cases, the vein may become swollen after the blood sample is taken.

This problem is called phlebitis. They can help you understand what your results mean. They can also recommend appropriate follow-up steps, which may include additional tests or treatments.

White blood cells, or WBCs, are an important part of your immune system. They help fight infections by attacking bacteria, viruses, and germs. Idiopathic aplastic anemia is a condition in which your bone marrow stops making new blood cells. Learn about the symptoms of aplastic anemia.

If your doctor suspects you have anemia, they may order a Coombs test. We'll explain what this test involves and what the results mean. Here's what you need to know about the link between leukemia and anemia.

Cold agglutinin disease CAD is a rare type of anemia. There are two types, primary and secondary. Learn about the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and…. MCHC is the average concentration of hemoglobin in your red blood cells. Find out how a low MCHC level is diagnosed and what conditions it may point…. Sideroblastic anemia is a group of blood disorders. In all cases, the bone marrow has difficulty producing normal, healthy red blood cells. Normal hemoglobin levels can vary based on several factors, including age and sex.

Reticulocytes increase when there is increased red blood cell destruction hemolysis. For example, increased red blood cell destruction and high reticulocyte counts occur in sickle cell disease [ 1 , 13 ]. Athletes may have increased reticulocytes due to exercise.

Exercise increases cortisol and other stress hormones, which in turn stimulate reticulocyte release from the bone marrow [ 14 , 15 ]. Exposure to toxins such as ethylene glycol ethers, common ingredients in paints and cleaners, can increase reticulocyte counts. In an observational study of 34 screen-printing workers, the people who were exposed to the toxins had significantly higher reticulocyte counts [ 16 ]. Lead is another toxin that can increase reticulocytes [ 17 ].

Smoking can also increase reticulocyte counts [ 18 ]. Reticulocyte counts can be normally increased in pregnancy [ 19 ]. Polycythemia vera is a condition in which there is higher red blood cell production.

It is linked to higher reticulocyte counts [ 20 ]. Erythroid leukemia, a rare form of acute myeloid leukemia, causes higher reticulocyte production and release [ 21 ].

Tumors that increase erythropoietin levels can increase reticulocytes by signaling the bone marrow to make more red blood cells. Reticulocytes can also increase in erythropoietin therapy or doping [ 22 , 23 ]. However, when those nutrients become available, the bone marrow compensates by increasing the rate of red blood cell production until red blood cell levels return back to normal [ 1 ].

Reticulocytes will also gradually increase after chemotherapy or radiation therapy, as bone marrow recovers [ 1 ]. High reticulocytes are usually a sign of an underlying disorder or disease. Quit smoking.