Sensitivity of reticulocyte indices to iron therapy in an intensely training athlete.

Abstract

Iron deficiency anaemia, and its debilitating effect on performance, is an area of concern for many female athletes. Automated technologies that analyse individual reticulocytes may provide a sensitive measure of bone marrow response to iron supplementation. The reticulocyte characteristics of a female volleyball player with frank iron deficiency anaemia, and her subsequent response to oral iron therapy, are reported.