Thesis (MTech (Medical Technology))--Cape Technikon, Cape Town, 2002 / Erythropoietic response is the first indication of bone marrow recovery following bone
marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. Manual reticulocyte counting has
not only proven to be outdated but an extremely crude method of analysis, particularly if
accurate and reliable means of assessing erythroid response is required to assess bone
marrow recovery. Automated methods allow for the quantification of maturation within
each reticulocyte, by measuring the amount of RNA present. The method of choice for
our reticulocyte analysis was the Reticulocyte Maturation Index (RMI). The RMI was
obtained by dividing the number of immature reticulocytes counted by the total number
of reticulocytes counted producing a reportable value of International Units (IU). A
normal Reticulocyte Maturation Index is 0.20 to 0.50 IU.
The aim of the study was multifold. We wanted to prove that the Reticulocyte Maturation
Index (RMI) is indeed the fastest means to assess bone marrow recovery in various types
of transplants, including Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) and Peripheral Blood Stem
Cell Transplant (PBSCT). We also wanted to draw comparisons between allogeneic and
autologous transplants, as well as further assessing different disease types. This was done
by measuring the Reticulocyte Maturation Index (RMI), Absolute Neutrophil Count
(ANe) and the Platelet Count (PLT) within the various groups. We further wanted to
assess the effect of preconditioning treatment, Mononuclear Counts (MNC) and Colony
Forming Unit - Granulocyte and Monocyte Counts (CFU-GM) on the early RMI
response. These comparisons resulted in a need to establish a working range to determine
patients response therein, and final outcome of the transplants. Finally we wanted to
establish whether the "day 14" marrow biopsy is necessary, particularly if the three
peripheral blood parameters, RMI, ANC and PLT were used as routine procedure
following transplantation.
The Reticulocyte Maturation Index (RMI) was measured on the Coulter EPICS ProfIle
II flow cytometer; the ANC and PLT were measured on the Technicon H2 Haematology
System. All other results such as the Mononuclear Counts (MNC), Colony Forming Unit
- Granulocyte and Monocyte counts (CFU-GM), "day 14" and "day 28" bone marrow
biopsies were retrieved from laboratory records.
Forty nine transplant patients were evaluated for RMI over a period of six months, at the
Department of Haematology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town. Four patients failed
to engraft; and were not used in the calculations; but were evaluated as an aspect of the
study in the final analysis. Forty five patients were analysed to establish the values used
in the study, these patients were divided into eleven groups.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:cput/oai:localhost:20.500.11838/1466 |
| Date | January 2002 |
| Creators | Blackbeard, Jill Margaret |
| Publisher | Cape Technikon |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/za/ |
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