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Work the guided case

The case has anemia with reticulocytosis: 8.1% and an absolute reticulocyte count of 224 × 10^9/L. The cited Mayo adult interval is 0.60% to 2.71% and 30.4 to 110.9 × 10^9/L, but it is an example rather than a transferable local interval. Macrocytosis can accompany reticulocytosis in this pattern.

LDH is increased, bilirubin is indirect predominant because total bilirubin is 42 and direct bilirubin is 5 micromol/L, and haptoglobin is low. Urine blood is 2+ with few intact red cells on microscopy. Together these findings support increased red-cell destruction and favor an intravascular component.

The smear has polychromasia and spherocytes without increased schistocytes. The direct antiglobulin test (DAT) detects immunoglobulin or complement coating red cells; here the polyspecific DAT is positive 2+, with IgG 2+ and C3d negative by local column agglutination. Communicate the integrated pattern and route immunohematology follow-up under the local procedure.

Illustrative drawing — this picture was drawn rather than captured.

Chart showing case reticulocytes of 8.1 percent above a 0.60 to 2.71 percent example interval and hemoglobin 86 g/L below a local example interval.
Figure 1Case CBC response compared with an example reticulocyte interval.
Guided case results
ResultValueReference interval or context
Hemoglobin86 g/L120-160 g/L, local example
Reticulocytes8.1%0.60-2.71%, Mayo example only
Absolute reticulocytes224 × 10^9/L30.4-110.9 × 10^9/L, Mayo example only
LDH815 U/L120-246 U/L, local example
Total bilirubin42 micromol/L3-20 micromol/L, local example
Direct bilirubin5 micromol/L0-7 micromol/L, local example
Haptoglobinless than 0.08 g/L0.30-2.00 g/L, local example
Urine blood pad2+Few intact RBCs on microscopy
DATIgG 2+, C3d negativeLocal column agglutination

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Knowledge check 1

Which case findings support increased red-cell destruction? Select all that apply.

Choose at least 4 options.

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