What does a high MCH mean?
What does a high MCH mean?
High MCH scores are commonly a sign of macrocytic anemia. This condition occurs when the blood cells are too big, which can be a result of not having enough vitamin B12 or folic acid in the body. High MCH scores may also be the result of the following: liver diseases. an overactive thyroid gland.
What does MCV MCH and MCHC mean?
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were first introduced by Wintrobe in 1929 to define the size (MCV) and hemoglobin content (MCH, MCHC) of red blood cells.
What is MCH and MCHC low?
A low mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) shows that someone’s red blood cells do not have enough hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein, and a lack of it may indicate anemia. Hemoglobin is responsible for the red color in blood and for circulating oxygen around the body.
What does low MCV MCH and MCHC mean?
The RBC count, hematocrit level, MCV, MCH and MCHC might also be low in patients with anemia. Low RBC counts, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels can be caused by other things too, such as a lot of bleeding or malnutrition (not enough nutrients in the food eaten).
Is low MCHC bad?
A low MCHC without anemia is associated with poor outcomes for people in intensive care. 9 It may also indicate iron deficiency before anemia develops.
What happens if MCHC is low?
In severe cases, anemic hypoxia can occur as a result of low MCHC levels. When MCHC levels are very low, your body could struggle to provide enough oxygen to all its tissues. As a result, these tissues are deprived of oxygen and unable to get rid of carbon dioxide. This can actually become life-threatening.