Question

Why do hemolytic anemias, although classified as normocytic, often appear microcytic and hypochromic? 5.

Answer 1

Hemolytic anemias – This is a disorder in which the destruction of the red blood cells (this destruction is called hemolysis) are faster than they can be made. Oxygen is carried through red blood cells into our body. Lower than normal amount of red blood cells indicates anemia.

Normocytic anemia is a blood problem in which you have normal-sized red blood cells however the red blood cells count will be low than the required limit. The normal-sized red blood cells tell your doctor that you have normocytic anemia rather than another kind of anemia.

Microcytic anemia is known as the existence of small, usually hypochromic, red blood cells in a peripheral blood smear and is usually characterized by a low Mean corpuscular volume MCV. The deficiency of Iron is the most common cause of microcytic anemia.

Hypochromia is a state in which the red blood cells have less color than normal when examined under a microscope. This mostly happens when there is insufficient pigment that carries oxygen (hemoglobin) in the red blood cells.

Hemolytic Anemia although classified as Normocytic (there are normal RBCs produced but low in volume) appear as Microcytic and Hypochromic. In Hemolytic anemias, RBCs have a reduced life span and hence the RBCs in circulation are reduced. Less RBCs result in decreased oxygen which causes hypoxia. Hemolytic anemia are of different types like sickle cell anemia, thalassemia minor and thalassemia major. Thalassemias are characterized by hypochromia (an abnormal decrease in hemoglobin content of RBCs), extreme microcytosis (smaller than normal RBCs, destruction of blood elements which is hemolysis and variable degrees of anemia. The blood tests is done and the Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) shows as < 80 it is microcytic and Mean Corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) is hypochromic.