Microcytosis

The term microcyte ( micros , Greek for 'small, small') is used in medicine for abnormally small red blood cells ( erythrocytes ). Microcytosis is the technical term for the appearance of reduced red blood cells in the blood count . In microcytosis, the mean erythrocyte volume (MCV) is reduced to less than 80 femto liters (fl) (normal value for adults 80 to 96 fl). If there is anemia at the same time, it is called microcytic anemia .

The most common cause of microcytosis is iron deficiency , but it is also observed in copper and vitamin B6 deficiencies . Inherited forms are also known, such as B. β-thalassemia minor , a form of Mediterranean anemia . Microcytosis can also occur with a portosystemic shunt and sodium deficiency . In some Asian dog breeds ( Akita Inu , Chow-Chow , Shar-Pei , Shiba Inu ), microcytosis is physiological.

literature

• Gerhard Thews , Peter Vaupel : Vegetative Physiology. Springer-Verlag, 2013, ISBN 978-3-662-10747-8 , p. 39. ( limited preview in Google book search).

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} L. Thomas (Ed.): Labor und Diagnose. 5th edition. TH-Books-Verlag-Ges. Frankfurt am Main 1998, ISBN 3-9805215-3-2 , p. 486.
2. ↑ R. Mitschke: Interpretation of changes in the blood smear - 2. Erythrocytes and thrombocytes. In: Fachpraxis. 49, 2006, pp. 14-20.

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