Destruction of RBC

 Q: What percentage of total circulating Red Blood Cells (RBCs) get destruct per day?

Answer: 1%

The basic knowledge of RBC production, destruction, and survival is important while dealing with a patient with acute or chronic anemia. This becomes important when patients stay in ICU for a longer period of time and require blood draws every day.

The formula for RBC turnover rate is 

 RBC turnover rate (percent/day) = 100 ÷ RBC survival (days) 

 In a normal healthy adult, the normal RBC turnover rate is about a percent a day. And, in acute situations, the maximal sustainable capacity of the bone marrow to increase RBC production in an average healthy adult goes high up to 5 percent per day. In children, this turnover can go up to 8 percent in a stressful situation.

#hematology

References:

1. Smith JA. Exercise, training and red blood cell turnover. Sports Med. 1995;19(1):9-31. doi:10.2165/00007256-199519010-00002 

2. Poyart C, Wajcman H. Hemolytic anemias due to hemoglobinopathies. Mol Aspects Med 1996; 17:129. 

3. Handelman GJ, Levin NW. Red cell survival: relevance and mechanism involved. J Ren Nutr. 2010 Sep;20(5 Suppl):S84-8. doi: 10.1053/j.jrn.2010.06.007.