101: the Utility of Routine Reticulocyte Count in Uncomplicated Vaso-Occlusive Crisis Due to Sickle Cell Disease

A common component of emergency department (ED) care of sickle cell (SC) patients presenting with vaso-occlusive crisis is measurement of the reticulocyte count. The reticulocyte count is a measure of immature red blood cells (RBC) and should be elevated with acute RBC destruction that occurs during a vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC). When the bone marrow fails to respond to the acute anemia due to RBC destruction, an aplastic crisis may be present. However, aplastic crises are quite rare. Our objective is to evaluate the utility of routine reticulocyte count measurement in uncomplicated VOC due to SC disease.