Evaluation of cell population data as potential markers of cobalamin and folate deficiency in populations at risk with regard to renal function

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate neutrophil and monocyte cell population data as novel markers of low cobalamin/folate concentrations and influence of renal function on their usefulness. The study included 284 patients older than 60 years or with dyspepsia symptoms with mean corpuscular volume 80-100 fL and C-reactive protein lt = 50 mg/l. Subjects were divided according to renal function and further classified based on cobalamin and folate levels. Neutrophil and monocyte volume (NeV, MoV), conductivity (NeC, MoC), light scatter (NeS, MoS) and standard deviations (NeV-SD, MoV-SD, NeCSD, MoC-SD, NeS-SD, MoS-SD), obtained by Coulter LH750 (R) Hematology Analyzer (Beckman Coulter, USA), were evaluated along with white blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red cell distribution width and homocysteine relative to renal function and cobalamin/folate status. Neutrophil conductivity standard deviation (NeC-SD) had the largest magnitude of the difference between patients with low and normal vitamin levels, was the strongest predictor of low cobalamin/folate concentrations and had the largest area under the curve in detection of vitamin deficiency. Patients with different renal function status and the same cobalamin/folate status did not differ in NeC-SD. In this selected group of patients, NeC-SD was marker of low cobalamin and folate levels regardless of the renal function.