Macrocytosis

Macrocytosis
Classification and external resources
ICD-10	D75.8
ICD-9	289.89
DiseasesDB	7688
eMedicine	med/1381

Macrocytosis is the enlargement of red blood cells with near-constant hemoglobin concentration, and is defined by a mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of greater than 100 femtolitres (the precise criterion varies between laboratories).

Causes

Most commonly (especially when the increase in size is mild, and just above normal range) the etiology is bone marrow dysplasia secondary to alcohol abuse and Chronic alcoholism. Other causes may include:

• Megaloblastosis (Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency; or DNA synthesis-inhibiting drugs)
• hypothyroidism
• reticulocytosis (commonly from hemolysis or a recent history of blood loss).
• liver disease
• myeloproliferative disease
• Pregnancy- is the most common and requires no treatment as female will return back to normal post-partum

Complications

No complications arise from macrocytosis itself and a prognosis will be determined from its etiology.

See also

• Macrocytic anemia