macrocytic anaemia
Definition
Noun 1. A type of anemia characterized by larger-than-normal red blood cells: Macrocytic anaemia is a blood disorder where the average size of the red blood cells (erythrocytes) is abnormally large. This condition is typically caused by deficiencies in vitamin B12 or folate, which are essential for proper DNA synthesis during red blood cell production in the bone marrow.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The patient's fatigue and pallor were found to be symptoms of macrocytic anaemia.
- A blood smear confirmed the diagnosis of macrocytic anaemia due to the presence of enlarged erythrocytes.
- Treatment for macrocytic anaemia often involves vitamin B12 injections or folic acid supplements.
Advanced Usage
- "Megaloblastic anaemia": This is a specific and common subtype of macrocytic anaemia. It refers to the condition where the bone marrow produces large, immature, and dysfunctional red blood cells (megaloblasts) due to impaired DNA synthesis. While all megaloblastic anaemias are macrocytic, not all macrocytic anaemias are megaloblastic.
- Pernicious anaemia, a cause of vitamin B12 deficiency, results in megaloblastic anaemia.
Variants and Related Words
- Macrocytic anemia (noun): The American English spelling variant.
- Macrocytosis (noun): The medical term for the condition of having enlarged red blood cells, which is the defining feature of macrocytic anaemia. Macrocytosis can exist without anaemia if the red blood cell count is still sufficient.
- Megaloblast (noun): The large, immature precursor cell found in the bone marrow in megaloblastic anaemia.
Synonyms
- Megaloblastic anaemia (noun): A primary synonym for the most common form, though technically a subtype.
Noun
-
anemia in which the average size of erythrocytes is larger than normal
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