Dr sc. nat. Saskia Brunner-Agten

Vita

• Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University Basel
• Master in Medical Biology at the University Lausanne
• PhD in Immunology at the Universitiy Bern
• postgraduate education to specialist FAMH in clinical immunology and hematology
• 13 years of work experience, most of it as head of the department of “Erythrozyten-Fuktions-Diagnostik” at the Institute of Medical Laboratory at the Cantonal Hospital in Aarau, focusing on the diagnostics of hemoglobinopathies and thalassemia
• Since 3 years, member of the scientifique direction in a privat laboratory in Sierre

Lecture: Utility of different older and newer biomarkers in differential diagnosis of anaemia

Anaemia is not an illness but a very common and global symptom affecting people all over the world. Usually, anaemia is defined through a diminution of haemoglobin (concentration), considering that the reference values are dependent on age, sex and race. In general, we differentiate between acute and chronic anaemia.

Diagnosis and therapy are mainly based on morphological classification, namely normo-, micro- and macrocytic anaemias, therefore medical history and additional laboratory analysis aim to separate between these three types in a first step. In a second step based on medical history, clinical examination and additional traditional as well as newer parameters such as the immature reticulocyte fraction (IRF), reticulocyte indices such as reticulocyte haemoglobin content (RET-He) and mean reticulocyte volume (MCVr) as well as chemical parameters like ferritin, erythroferon and so on, help to lead to the final diagnosis.