Reticulocytopenia
Reticulocytopenia, is the medical term for an abnormal decrease of reticulocytes in the body. Reticulocytes are new, immature red blood cells.Causes
Reticulocytopenia is usually a result of viral parvovirus B19 infection, which invades and destroys red blood cell precursors and halts the red cell production.
If infection occurs in individuals with sickle cell anemia, spherocytosis, or beta thalassemia, it will lead to incorporation of two anemia-induced mechanisms: decreased red cell production and hemolysis. The result is a rapid and severe anemia which may require blood transfusion.
