A Novel Method for Calculating Mean Erythrocyte Age Using Erythrocyte Creatine

Abstract

BackgroundsErythrocyte creatine (EC) decreases reflecting erythrocyte age.\n\nMethodsWe developed an EC model, which showed a bi- or mono-exponential relationship between mean erythrocyte age (MRBC) and EC. We reanalyzed the previously published data of 21 patients with hemolytic anemia which included EC and 51Cr half-life.\n\nResultsMRBC and loge EC showed excellent significant linearity (r = -0.9475, p < 0.001), showing that it can be treated as a mono-exponential relationship within the studied range (EC: 1.45 - 11.76 {micro}mol/g Hb). We established an equation to obtain MRBC (days) from EC ({micro}mol/g Hb), MRBC = -22.84 loge EC + 65.83.\n\nConclusionThis equation allows calculation of MRBC based on EC which has practical applications such as the diagnosis of anemia.