Anemia is classified by the size of the dysfunctional red blood cells: they are either microcytic, macrocytic or normocytic.
Microcytic AnemiasMicrocytic anemias have red blood cells that are smaller in volume than healthy red blood cells (they are <80 femtolitres in volume). Usually, microcytic anemias involve a difficulty in synthesizing heme or globin (the base compounds of hemoglobin), which may be due to deficiencies in certain nutrients or a genetic defect.
Microcytic anemias include:
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Normocytic Anemias
Normocytic anemias have red blood cells that are the same size as regular, healthy red blood cells (80-100 femtolitres in volume). Usually, this indicates that the red blood cells themselves are perfectly healthy; it's just that something's gone wrong in the cycle of RBC production and destruction.
Normocytic anemias include:
Normocytic anemias include:
- anemia from blood loss/chronic inflammation
- hemolytic anemias (increased RBC destruction by some method or another)
- aplastic anemia (bone marrow failure)