Causes and Symptoms of Macrocytic Anemia That Is Non-Megaloblastic

Anemia: Causes and Types

Anemia is a condition that occurs when the body lacks healthy red blood cells or has low levels of hemoglobin. This interferes with the cells’ ability to do their job. Iron deficiency anemia, aplastic anemia, hemolytic anemia, and macrocytic anemia are some of the types of anemia.

What is Non-Megaloblastic Macrocytic Anemia?

Non-megaloblastic macrocytic anemia is a type of anemia where the red blood cells are larger than normal. This can cause symptoms such as weakness, tiredness, shortness of breath, dizziness, and headache. The condition can occur due to several reasons that can affect the size of the circulating red blood cells.

Causes of Non-Megaloblastic Macrocytic Anemia

Non-megaloblastic macrocytic anemia can be caused by liver disease, removal of the spleen, chronic alcohol consumption, COPD, myelodysplastic syndrome, hypothyroidism, hemolytic anemia, or bleeding.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Symptoms associated with non-megaloblastic macrocytic anemia may not be noticeable during its early stages. Physical examination and laboratory tests such as complete blood count (CBC), peripheral blood smear (PBS), and bone marrow examination are used to diagnose non-megaloblastic macrocytic anemia.

Treatment and Prevention

Treatment for non-megaloblastic macrocytic anemia centers on treating the underlying cause. While megaloblastic macrocytic anemia is treated by supplementing folate and/or vitamin B12 to overcome nutritional deficiencies, some cases of non-megaloblastic macrocytic anemia can be prevented by reducing the risk of developing the health conditions that can cause it.