Enlarged rbc (red blood cells)

how was the enlarged red blood cells diagnosed? - just by microscopy? - seems a bit unusual (unless extreme i guess).

the usual measure is mean corpuscle volume / mean red blood cell volume
this measures a change in the average of all the red blood cell volumes in a sample and is a more precise metric.

larger MCV's are associated with high red blood cell turnovers as red blood cells are larger when first made in the bone marrow and gradually shrink over time before being broken down by the liver at the end of their life ( usually around 90 days )
so higher average size if taken to indicate a younger population on average and hence more rapid turnover

this could be caused by anything that causes red blood cells to be destroyed at a higher than average rate
-red blood cell infection eg piroplasm or bart infection
-autoimmune reactions
-anything else that damages red blood cells and causes the body to recycle them early

intermittent just outside range MCV is one of the anomalies that keep popping up on my CBC's

do you have any other signs of heavy turnover of red blood cells?
-periodic anemia
-low iron levels
-high bilirubin counts

Vitamin B-12 deficiency
Folate deficiency
Liver disease
Alcoholism
Hypothyroidism
A side effect of certain medications, such as those used to treat cancer, seizures and autoimmune disorders
Increased red blood cell production by the bone marrow to correct anemia, for example, after blood loss
An underlying bone marrow cancer called myelodysplastic syndrome
If you have macrocytosis, blood tests can help determine its cause. In some cases, it may be necessary to remove a sample of your bone marrow — the spongy tissue inside your bones — for testing.

Management of macrocytosis consists of finding and treating the underlying cause. In the case of vitamin B-12 or folate deficiency, treatment may include diet modification and dietary supplements or injections. If the underlying cause is resulting in severe anemia, you might need a blood transfusion.

P.s. I love how they never even mention things like babesia or bart it's sad

potsnpans said...
"The enlarged rbc was actually found on routine blood work I had no idea. So bart or babesia u think can cause this?"

Yes because they both infect RBCs. I've struggled with low RBC low WBC as well.. positive Babs on 1/3 tests (serology).. Bart 0/2..
from my notes:
"WebMD: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia can be caused by mycoplasma pneumoniae, also Epstein Barr"

I did have a positive mono spot test once . Which is for ebv more commonly know as mono. Very highly contagious I even kissed my husband and kids and nobody caught it so I then learned later that lyme and bart can actually cause a false positive mono spot or ebv test due to the whole sore throat and bacteria thing. Same thing goes for strept throat. My oldest son had lyme but then boom he comes out positive for strept throat and scarlet fever rash everywhere. We then found his tick bite and for him tested for lyme.