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Blasts Questoin

This topic has 3 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 16 years ago by camiboxer.

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

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April 28, 2008 at 1:57 am #20618

camiboxer
Member

For whatever reason I thought of something the other day and for the life of me can’t figure out what it means.

My dad was diagnosed with RARS.

We were told that he had 0% blasts. IF he has no blasts why was he diagnosed with RARS?

Isn’t “ringed sideroblasts” BLASTS?? Or are they two totally different beasts??

April 28, 2008 at 2:51 am #20619

Carruth
Member

Hi,

I think it means no blasts in the blood. The “blasts” in RARS are the ones in the bone marrow, right?

Carruth

April 29, 2008 at 4:19 am #20620

Dolittle
Member

Hi Susi…

Blasts are the most immature blood cells. It is considered “normal” to have up to 5% in the marrow, but there shouldn’t be any in the peripheral blood.
Ringed sideroblasts are abnormal red blood cells. They have matured past the blast stage, but because of the disease (RARS) they do not use iron correctly and the iron is visible under the microscope as a ring around the cell.
Wikipedia has a fairly simple article on sideroblastic anemia (another name for RARS) at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sideroblastic_anemia
One of the things your Dad’s doctor will be monitoring is his iron stores. RARS can cause iron overload because the body doesn’t use iron the way it is supposed to.

May 1, 2008 at 2:54 am #20621

camiboxer
Member

Thanks you so much for the info….easly explained in laymen’s terms!
Thanks for the link as well.
Much appreciated!
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