Blood test is one of the most important medical tools to check the health status.... one of the vital parameters in this test that plays a big role in diagnosing diseases is mcv.... This index measures the average volume of red blood cells and can help to diagnose types of anemia... Considering that red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen in the body, any disturbance in the overall size and volume of the body has a great impact on a person's health.... This article is from Health Magazine GCORP LLC We will examine the reasons for the decrease and increase in the mcv level in the blood test and explain its role in the diagnosis of diseases... Stay with us.

What is meant by mcv in blood test?

The mcv test shows the average size of red blood cells....Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body to provide the cells with the energy they need....Checking the size of red blood cells can provide your general practitioner or internist with important information about the ability of these cells to carry oxygen.

The mcv test is one of the main components of the complete blood count (CBC) test.. The CBC test is performed to count platelets (PLT), white blood cells and red blood cells, as well as to evaluate the red blood cell index... In addition to the mcv, the red blood cell index includes the following three parameters:

• mch: test mch in a blood test shows the average amount of hemoglobin in each red blood cell.... Hemoglobin is an important protein that allows red blood cells to carry oxygen.
• mchc: The mchc test in a blood test shows the average hemoglobin of red blood cells.... But unlike mch, it also takes into account the size of these cells.... In other words, mch indicates the amount and mchc indicates the concentration of hemoglobin.
• RDW: This test shows the range of changes in the volume and size of red blood cells.... To learn more about the RDW test, we suggest the above article rdw-cv What is the blood test?

The mcv test alone is not enough to diagnose the disease... but when combined with other tests, it helps the doctor to diagnose health problems.

Why do doctors measure mcv levels?

As we said, mcv is usually detected in a CBC test. A doctor usually orders a CBC test when someone has the following symptoms:

• Dry and cracked lips
• Inability to tolerate cold
• fatigue
Abnormal bruising or bleeding
• Unwanted weight loss
Cold hands and feet
• Pale color
• Jaundice of the skin and eyes

Irregular heartbeat (this problem may be a sign of high blood pressure or anemia)

The above symptoms indicate problems that affect the size of red blood cells, causing them to become smaller or larger.

Interpretation of mcv parameter in blood test

The normal range of mcv in adults is between 80 and 100 femtoliters (fL)... Of course, this number may vary depending on age and gender... The range of mcv usually changes with age and is slightly higher in women until the age of 30... But after that it increases in men... The following table shows the average mcv in different people:

MCV levels may be outside the normal range for various reasons. Folate (vitamin B9) or vitamin B12 deficiency, which often occurs due to following a vegetarian diet, chemotherapy, alcohol consumption, or suffering from certain diseases such as digestive problems and thyroid gland disorders, is one of the most common causes of MCV deficiency. It may lead to a decrease in mcv.

It is important to mention that checking other parameters such as hemoglobin, hematocrit and plt in the blood test will help the doctor to accurately interpret the MCV test and identify the reasons for its decrease or increase.

Cause of high mcv in blood test

If the mcv is high, the red blood cells are larger than normal and the person has macrocytic anemia. This anemia occurs in people whose mcv level is more than 100 femtoliters.

Megaloblastic anemia is a type of macrocytic anemia that often occurs due to a deficiency of folate (vitamin B9) and cobalamin (vitamin B12). Factors that contribute to the deficiency of these nutrients include:

1... following a vegan diet

People who follow a vegetarian diet are more at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency than others... because this vitamin is found naturally only in animal sources.... Those who eliminate all animal foods from their daily routine can help prevent and treat megaloblastic anemia by taking vitamin B12 supplements and consuming foods enriched with this vitamin.

2... Autoimmune gastritis

Autoimmune gastritis is an inflammatory disease that affects the stomach, especially the parietal cells (cells that produce intrinsic factor). If these cells do not produce enough intrinsic factor, vitamin B12 cannot enter the bloodstream through the small intestine.

3.... Other causes

Other factors that can lead to folate and vitamin B12 deficiency are:

• Breastfeeding
• Excessive consumption of alcohol
• Striped worm
• Crohn's disease
• Chemotherapy
• Liver disease
Bone marrow dysfunction, such as myelodysplastic syndrome
• Hemolytic anemia (red blood cells are destroyed faster than normal)
• Hyperglycemia (increased blood sugar level)
• Multiple myeloma (a type of blood cancer)

Thyroid gland disorders may also contribute to increased mcv.. These disorders are diagnosed by measuring thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4)..

Cause of low mcv in blood test

If the mcv level in the blood test is less than 80 femtoliters, the person has microcytic anemia.... In this type of anemia, the red blood cells are smaller than normal.... Iron deficiency is the main cause of microcytic anemia and it usually occurs for the following reasons:

• Blood loss: Some people have gastrointestinal bleeding due to colon cancer or the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin. Also, women who lose a lot of blood during menstruation may have low iron levels on the test sheet.
• Improper diet:If a person is on a vegetarian diet or does not consume enough animal foods, they are at risk of iron deficiency... Increasing iron-rich foods or taking supplements can help prevent this problem.
• Decreased iron absorption: Some diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or Helicobacter pylori infection as well as weight loss surgery may have a negative effect on iron absorption.
• Pregnancy: Women should take iron supplements during pregnancy because the body needs more iron to support the growth of the fetus... Ignoring this advice is not only dangerous for the health of the fetus... but also puts the mother at risk of iron deficiency.

Doctors also use other tests such as TIBC to diagnose iron deficiency.... But what does TIBC mean in a blood test? This index, which increases in people with iron deficiency anemia, measures the blood's ability to bind to iron and carry it in the body.

Thalassemia

In addition to iron deficiency, a low mcv blood test can have other reasons.. One of these reasons is thalassemia disease.. Thalassemia is an inherited disease that causes the body to not produce enough normal hemoglobin.. This disease can vary from mild to severe. If a person has mild thalassemia, he may not notice any signs or symptoms on the red blood cells.

Even if the mcv level is normal in a blood test, you may still have anemia. This type of anemia, known as normocytic anemia, is often caused by a defect in the production of red blood cells. The mcv level may also be falsely normal in the following conditions:

• Anemia caused by chronic diseases Chronic kidney disease Excessive blood loss Hemolytic anemia
• Thyroid disorders

If the doctor still suspects anemia despite a normal mcv, he will check other blood test results or ask you for other tests... For example, increased TSH, decreased T3 and T4, and cholesterol above 200 can indicate hypothyroidism.

When should we see a doctor?

If you are always tired and feel cold all the time, you may have anemia.... In this situation, it is recommended to consult an online general practitioner about your problem as soon as possible.... The general practitioner will review your symptoms and your family's medical history and recommend the necessary tests.... He can also interpret your blood test results and refer you to other specialists if necessary.

Endword

The mcv test shows the size and volume of red blood cells and in healthy people it is between 80 and 100 femtoliters... If the mcv level in the blood test is less than 80 femtoliters, you probably have microcytic anemia... But if it is more than 100 femtoliters, it indicates macrocytic anemia.. Jaundice.

The abnormality of mcv in the blood test alone cannot provide enough information to the doctor to diagnose diseases.... So if the number of this test is outside the normal range, you should not worry too much.... The best thing is to go to a general practitioner or internist to know the exact result of your test.

For consultation with the best doctors, we suggest visiting the GCORP LLC website.... In GCORP LLC, in addition to the face-to-face appointment system, it is also possible to schedule an online consultation.

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Sources: my.clevelandclinic | medicalnewstoday | Health