MACROCYTIC ANEMIA

Course overview

MACROCYTIC ANEMIA REFERS TO MACROCYTOSIS (MEAN CORPUSCULAR VOLUME (MCV) GREATER THAN 100 FL) IN THE SETTING OF ANEMIA (HEMOGLOBIN LESS THAN 12 G/DL OR HEMATOCRIT (HCT) LESS THAN 36% IN NONPREGNANT FEMALES, HEMOGLOBIN LESS THAN 11 G/DL IN PREGNANT FEMALES, OR HEMOGLOBIN LESS THAN 13 G/DL OR HCT LESS THAN 41% IN MALES). IT IS DIVIDED INTO TWO FORMS, MEGALOBLASTIC (HYPERSEGMENTED NEUTROPHILS) AND NON-MEGALOBLASTIC. THE MEGALOBLASTIC FORM IS DUE TO IMPAIRED DNA SYNTHESIS FROM FOLATE AND/OR VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCIES, WHILE THE NON-MEGALOBLASTIC MOIETY OCCURS FROM MULTIPLE MECHANISMS.THERE ARE MANY ETIOLOGIES FOR MACROCYTIC ANEMIA, DECREASED HEMOGLOBIN WITH ELEVATED MEAN CORPUSCULAR VOLUME (>100 FL), SEVERAL OF WHICH ARE EASILY TREATABLE AND SOME THAT THAT ARE LIFE-THREATENING. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE EVALUATION, DIAGNOSIS, AND MANAGEMENT OF MACROCYTIC ANEMIA AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF TEAM-BASED INTERPROFESSIONAL CARE FOR AFFECTED PATIENTS.