Increased reticulocyte count - leukemia?

[indywindy]

Increased reticulocyte count -

...And decreased ferritin situation. I have manager my PA well for many years now, but forgot to bring my krauterblut Iron on holiday for a week, and since then my ferritin has dropped to 44 while the reticulocytes has gone above range to 110.

Now, as I have a breastcancer history, I am concerned that this development might be indicative for leukemia (also have some bruises on my legs, yes after some hits with table corners etc, but rhey just look black, odd and many). Does anyone know if there could be a correlation with the change in counts and an increased risk if leukemia? Or some other good explanation?

TIA🙏

[indywindy]

Oh, and of course I started my Iron as soon as I got home 🙂👍

[FlipperTD in reply to indywindy]

Scientist, not medic.

It sounds like you've just answered your own question! Reticulocyte count goes up when your bone marrow is actively making more red cells.

So, in any deficiency anaemia, once you treat the deficiency, the retics will go up, and quite quickly. The greater the degree of anaemia, the greater the retic response in general. B12 and folate deficiencies will respond to replacement within a very few days; Iron deficiency takes a bit longer but we're only talking days. Then you should see your Haemoglobin level start to climb within the next few weeks.