General blood test deciphering anisocytosis. Detection of erythrocyte anisocytosis, its treatment and prevention of the disease. Causes of abnormal shape and size of blood cells

Blood is the most important element of the hematopoietic system, which ensures the vital functions of the body and participates in metabolic processes. Blood is a constantly circulating fluid consisting of plasma and blood cells (suspended particles): red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Blood is connective tissue and performs the function of nourishing and providing all organs and systems with oxygen molecules, and also transfers processed carbon dioxide to the alveoli, from which it then comes out.

A complete blood count is a type of laboratory test that counts all blood cells, as well as their size and shape. CBC is included in the list of mandatory diagnostic tests in the treatment of any disease and allows you to detect signs of an inflammatory process if blood cell counts differ from the norm.

One of these parameters is particle size. If it does not correspond to normal values, “anisocytosis” is marked on the study form.

Changes in the size and shape of blood components do not always indicate pathological processes in the body. It is considered normal if the deviation does not exceed 30% of the total number of red and white blood cells, and their percentage ratio in relation to each other must also be taken into account - it should be approximately the same. In the vast majority of cases, anisocytosis occurs simultaneously with poikilocytosis, a condition in which the structure of red blood cells is deformed and their work is disrupted.

The standard size of red blood cells (blood cells that contain hemoglobin and provide gas exchange in the body) can range from 7 to 9 micrometers. If these numbers are less or more than the normal value, the person is diagnosed with anisocytosis, which can occur in several forms, which are classified according to the size of the predominant red blood cells.

When we talk about anisocytosis, in most cases we mean an excess of the number of red blood cells of non-standard size by more than 30% of the total number of red blood cells, but sometimes the changes also affect small spherical plates of red color - platelets. Platelets are responsible for blood clotting, and changes in their size are almost always caused by pathological processes in the body, which can have a sluggish course and are detected by chance during a general blood test.

If a patient is diagnosed with platelet anisocytosis, the doctor will definitely prescribe an additional examination to exclude diseases of the hematopoietic system (including oncological processes), severe viral pathologies and diseases accompanied by latent forms of inflammation. When diagnosing, the doctor also necessarily takes into account the degree of pathology, which depends on how much the deviations exceed the permissible norm.

You should know it! In deciphering the results of a complete blood count, erythrocyte anisocytosis and platelet anisocytosis are designated as RDW and PDW, respectively.

Why does anisocytosis occur?

Both fairly harmless factors that can be easily corrected (for example, a monotonous, unbalanced diet) and serious diseases, including malignant blood lesions, can lead to the development of pathology. If a person eats incorrectly, abuses semi-finished products, canned food, products with a large number of chemical additives (flavors, dyes, preservatives), red blood cells and platelets may slightly change their size, but serious deviations are usually not observed.

Various forms of anemia can negatively affect the structure and appearance of blood components, especially iron deficiency anemia, in which there is a decrease in the level of hemoglobin, a complex iron-containing protein, the main component of the red blood cell.

A lack of carotene, retinol, vitamins B12 and B6 can also cause changes in blood components.

Pathological causes of anisocytosis include:

An increase in anisocytosis may be caused by systematic exposure to radioactive radiation. This situation can be observed in cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy, and in workers of machine and shipbuilding enterprises, whose activities are related to the manufacture of parts for submarines, military equipment and missile equipment.

Note! In some cases, moderate anisocytosis may be present in viral infections, for example, infectious mononucleosis, influenza, rotavirus infection, viral hepatitis and other diseases caused by various groups of viruses.

Is it possible to recognize anisocytosis without a blood test?

To diagnose the pathology, you need to take a general blood test, for which capillary blood (from a finger) is used. This is the only reliable method, since no specific symptoms appear during anisocytosis.

The patient may notice some deterioration in health, but they are not typical for this pathology and may indicate other disorders in the body.

The main and constant signs of anisocytosis are:

• constant weakness that does not go away even after proper rest and a night’s sleep;
• decreased performance;
• moderate headaches localized in the upper part of the head and in the back of the head;
• increased drowsiness;
• muscle weakness after waking up in the morning.

If the disorders are not treated for a long time, more serious problems may join the existing manifestations - the so-called “cardiac syndrome”. A person’s pulse quickens, their heart rate increases, and they experience difficulty breathing and shortness of breath. The feeling of lack of air can occur at any time of the day, regardless of physical activity and body position. The number of attacks of uncontrollable shortness of breath usually ranges from 2 to 8 per day.

The skin of people with various forms of anisocytosis is usually pale. The same applies to the mucous membranes of the lips and oral cavity.

Important! If the patient suffers from shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, or frequent headaches of unknown etiology, it is necessary to consult a doctor. If there are no pathologies during examination by a cardiologist, you should donate blood for analysis - perhaps the reason is anisocytosis or other disorders of the hematopoietic system, for example, a shift in the leukocyte formula or a deviation in hematocrit.

What does anisocytosis indicate in pregnant women?

The permissible number of modified red blood cells and platelets during pregnancy should not exceed 14.5%. If this indicator is much higher than the specified values, the cause may be iron deficiency anemia - a common pathology of pregnant women, which can lead to serious fetal malformations and complications during pregnancy.

It is very important to take a general blood test in the third trimester (preferably 2-4 weeks before the expected birth). Anisocytosis of platelets can, in late pregnancy, provoke increased bleeding during childbirth and in the postpartum period, since red blood platelets are responsible for blood clotting.

Important! To minimize the likelihood of complications during pregnancy and the postpartum period, a woman should eat properly and treat infectious diseases (especially viral ones) in a timely manner.

Your daily diet must include foods rich in iron: pomegranate juice, steamed veal, apple puree, buckwheat, tomatoes. If a newborn is diagnosed with anisocytosis in the first days of life, there is no need to worry - this condition is considered normal for infants in the first 3-7 days after birth.

Treatment and prevention

There is no specific treatment for anisocytosis. Correction of disorders is aimed at treating the underlying disease and preventing its relapses. If the cause of the deviation is anemia, the patient is prescribed iron supplements and a diet rich in iron-containing foods. It is useful to include red meats (lamb, beef, pork, veal), apple and pomegranate juice, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and liver in the menu.

To eliminate or prevent vitamin deficiency, you can take mineral supplements or vitamin-mineral complexes, for example:

• "Pikovit";
• "Alphabet";
• "Complivit";
• "Vitrum".

Women suffering from menorrhagia – heavy and prolonged menstruation – need to be especially attentive to their own health. Large blood losses lead to increased loss of iron and the development of anemia, so during this period it is important to maximally enrich the diet with foods with a high iron content.

In case of uterine bleeding (for example, against the background of discontinuation of oral contraceptives), it is necessary to monitor the level of hemoglobin and the chemical composition of the blood in order to notice any deviations in time and take action.

After stopping the attack, the woman is prescribed a special diet and medications that replenish the lack of iron in the body, and a gentle regimen.

Anisocytosis is not a disease, but may indicate serious problems in the functioning of the body. To avoid pathology, it is important to eat right, move more and walk in the fresh air. Movement helps cells better absorb and transport oxygen molecules involved in the process of iron absorption.

For viral infections, even if it is a common acute respiratory infection, you should not self-medicate, since improper treatment can cause complications and cause disruption of the structure and appearance of blood components.

Video - Why platelet levels drop

Sometimes in the results of a general blood test you can find such a term as anisocytosis. Before we talk about what it is, we should bring some clarity to our understanding of the structure of blood. Blood is a liquid tissue that circulates throughout the body, the main function of which is the transport of substances. Blood consists of plasma and formed elements - platelets, erythrocytes and leukocytes.

Red blood cells are blood cells that contain protein structures (hemoglobin) that perform the function of binding oxygen and carbon dioxide. These cells give the blood a red color due to the iron compounds they contain. The oxygen contained provides nutrition to the body's tissues and is the main component of the metabolic processes occurring in it.

Anisocytosis in a general blood test is a qualitative characteristic of the state of blood cells. The vast majority of red blood cells contained in the blood (up to 85% of the total number of red blood cells) have a size of 7.2 to 7.5 microns in diameter and are called normocytes. The remaining red blood cells, making up 15% of the total number, are either smaller (microcytes) or larger (macro- and megalocytes). Thus, the response to what anisocytosis is would be a high level of abnormally sized red blood cells. The very structure of the term (an - isocytosis) is translated as the denial of isocytosis, that is, the same size of cells).

Anisocytosis of erythrocytes is a physiologically normal phenomenon for newborns in the first days of life. In other cases, a high rate of erythrocyte anisocytosis may be a sign of some pathological condition. These include, for example, a deficiency of “building materials” for red blood cells - iron, vitamins A and B. In addition, liver disease, cancer and anemia of various origins can increase the proportion of abnormally sized red blood cells in the blood.

Anisocytosis of erythrocytes in the blood is indicated by the RDW index, i.e. index of distribution of red blood cells by volume. The index can be indicated in various ways, for example, in femtoliters (fL) its norm ranges from 10 to 20 units, in percentage - from 11.5% to 14.5%. The most common and simple notation scheme is the “plus system”, which is used by many laboratory technicians to indicate certain threshold values ​​for anisocytosis.

The “system of advantages” distinguishes the following categories:

(+) – a blood test revealed slight anisocytosis of erythrocytes, the proportion of cells of abnormal size does not exceed a quarter of the total number of erythrocytes;

(++) – the RDW index is increased to a moderate extent, i.e. the number of cells of different sizes is about half;

(+++) – this indicator indicates a high level of anisocytosis, in which almost ¾ of all red blood cells exceed the normal cell size;

(++++) – the RDW index is not just higher than normal, but red blood cells of normal size are practically not present in the blood.

Thus, the reasons for the increased RDW index in the blood may be of a different nature, and the intensity of the violation of the uniformity of blood cell size can be calculated in different units.

Other types of anisocytosis

Despite the fact that the qualitative state of red blood cells is most often determined in a blood test, there is another type of anisocytosis - platelet anisocytosis. Its definition, designation and degrees of intensity correlate with those of red blood cells as a percentage. The only difference is that the normal proportion of platelets of normal size among these blood cells is from 14% to 18%. In addition, the anisocytosis index for platelets is not referred to as RDW, but as PDW.

Platelets are blood cells that participate in thrombus formation, i.e. help stop bleeding and promote normal blood clotting. For the normal functioning of the body, the presence of a sufficient number of platelets and their normal condition is important, otherwise any open wound or other injury can lead to severe hemorrhages and blood loss.

Anisocytosis can be increased relative to the normal level of platelet diameter distribution in myeloplastic processes, leukemia, aplastic anemia, liver failure and other pathological conditions.

In addition to the division by types of blood cells, there is also a classification of anisocytosis according to the qualitative characteristics of changes in the size of blood cells. For example, microcytosis is a condition in which the number of small blood cells is exceeded, and macrocytosis – large ones.

Mixed is a type of anisocytosis in which an excess of abnormally sized blood cells occurs due to both increased and decreased red blood cells and platelets. This condition occurs with some types of anemia, but the predominance of the proportion of cells of one size or another can be used to judge the specific type of disease.

Why does anisocytosis occur?

When talking about the reasons for changes in the distribution of blood cell volume, it is necessary to distinguish between different types of anisocytosis. For example, microcytosis occurs more often with iron deficiency anemia, because. Due to insufficient iron content in the body, the red bone marrow is not able to produce red blood cells of sufficient size. In addition, a decrease in red blood cell volume can occur with thalassemia, sideroblastic anemia, cancer, and lead poisoning.

In turn, macrocytosis may not be a pathological condition at all. As mentioned earlier, anisocytosis in infants in the first days of life is a completely normal phenomenon, and it most often occurs as a macrocytosis. In the athological variant, such a change in the volume of blood cells can occur with a deficiency of certain microelements, myelodysplasia, or taking certain medications. In addition, the health of the liver and spleen, which also take part in the synthesis of blood cells, plays an important role in maintaining normal blood composition.

Anisocytosis generally accompanies many diseases. In addition to various types of anemia, such diseases include liver diseases (including metastases of cancerous tumors and the consequences of alcoholism), Alzheimer's disease, microspherocytosis, bone marrow metaplasia, as well as a number of cardiovascular diseases. In particular, the detection of changes in the diameter of red blood cells is considered a diagnostic sign of ischemia.

What are the symptoms of anisocytosis?

Anisocytosis is not an independent disease, but only a side change in blood composition due to the action of the main pathogenic factor (for example, iron deficiency or cancer). Therefore, the manifestations of this condition can be very different, depending on which organ bears the brunt of the disease.

A direct change in blood composition can lead to a state of asthenia - that is, constant fatigue even from minor work, irritability, often accompanied by shortness of breath. In addition, your heart rate may change. The appearance of such patients may be distinguished by changes in skin color - paleness or redness, changes in the shape of nails, etc.

In general, the pattern of symptoms of the disease resembles cardiac pathology, however, during diagnosis, no abnormalities in cardiac function are detected, since the reason lies in the fact that the patient has an increased index of blood cell volume distribution, which can mislead an inexperienced doctor.

Treatment of the disease occurs by identifying the main cause of changes in the structure of the blood. There is no specific therapy to stabilize the volume of blood cells, and it is important to correctly identify the cause, since iron or vitamin deficiency may also be a consequence of another disease.

It should also be noted that a complete picture of the patient’s health status cannot be compiled using just one indicator. Usually, when there is a need to identify anisocytosis, the doctor immediately prescribes several related tests that would help clarify the cause of the disease.

Preventing anisocytosis

In some cases, the occurrence of this violation can be prevented by following certain rules. First of all, anemia, which is the most common cause of anisocytosis, should be prevented. To do this, you need to normalize your diet by consuming enough iron. This is especially important for people experiencing great mental or physical stress, for weakened patients after illness, as well as for pregnant and lactating women.

In addition, it is necessary to regularly monitor the level of hemoglobin in the blood. Such a study is carried out at least once a year as part of a preventive examination in most workplaces, but even if a person does not have the opportunity to undergo such a study from the organization, there is always the opportunity to take a general blood test in a clinic or laboratory at his own request. Monitoring general blood parameters is important for the timely detection of many pathological conditions.

Timely detection and treatment of diseases is another point in the prevention of anisocytosis. In addition to the fact that it is caused by many different diseases, anisocytosis can be a complication of even more different diseases. It is important to treat all infectious diseases on time.

When treating diseases, it is important to follow medical recommendations for taking medications. As already mentioned, some medications, if used uncontrolled, can cause anisocytosis. In addition, people working with heavy metals should pay special attention to safety precautions when coming into contact with them.

If symptoms characteristic of anisocytosis appear, you should immediately consult a doctor, trying to describe as carefully and specifically as possible the onset of painful symptoms, their intensity and frequency. Even if they are not related to the composition of the blood, such manifestations may be evidence of heart disease.

Finally, standard recommendations for maintaining a healthy lifestyle significantly reduce the risk of anisocytosis. These include abstinence from alcohol and smoking abuse, sufficient physical activity, a high-quality balanced diet, a healthy sleep pattern and, if possible, the absence of psycho-emotional overload. In combination with regular medical monitoring, these rules of life minimize not only the occurrence of anisocytosis, but also the occurrence of most other diseases.

Anisocytosis in a general blood test is a term used in laboratory research and describes a deviation from the norm in the number of blood cells that, due to disease or some other factor, have undergone changes in their size.

If there is any suspicion of anemia, a blood test is performed to calculate the RDW index.

Red blood cells of normal size are called normocytes. The ratio of normocytes and erythrocytes with other sizes should be within 70 to 30.

The sizes of normocytes range from 6.8-7.5 microns. The normal size of red blood cells in children depends on the current month or year of life - 7.0-8.12 microns.

These figures are not brought to a “single standard”, so in various sources you can find a change in value lower and higher - from 6 to 9 microns. Red blood cell anisocytosis occurs when the number of red blood cells with abnormal sizes is increased - above the acceptable 30% threshold.

Causes

The main culprits for the appearance of anisocytosis in blood tests are various types of anemia, with the bulk of cases accounting for iron deficiency syndromes. Other causes of this condition include:

• DNA synthesis disorder, hypothyroidism, leukemia, chronic liver intoxication and cirrhosis, malnutrition, pregnancy;
• genetic changes in pluripotent stem cells which are caused by a number of unfavorable factors and pathologies in the older age group (after 60 years);
• red bone marrow cancer and oncological diseases, metastasizing to the bone marrow - lung cancer, oncological tumors of the mammary, prostate or thyroid glands, gastrointestinal or kidney carcinoma, lymphoma, melanoma, sarcoma;
• massive blood loss, blood transfusion, lead poisoning, sideroblastic anemia, pregnancy, breastfeeding.

Varieties

Red blood cells that differ in size from the norm are called:

• microcytes – less than 6 microns;
• schizocytes – fragments of red blood cells, 2-3 microns in size;
• microspherocytes - red blood cells spherical in shape and with a diameter of 4-6 microns;
• macrocytes – increased size, more than 8 microns;
• megalocytes – more than 12 microns.

Depending on the size of blood cells present in the blood plasma in an increased size (above 15%), the following types of erythrocyte anisocytosis are distinguished:

1. Microanisocytosis. The main reason for the increase in the level of microcytes is considered to be a violation of hemoglobin synthesis. This change often accompanies iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia, hemoglobinopathies, and some chronic infectious diseases. Microcytosis itself can become a sign of another pathology and prompt additional tests - for example, for the presence of hypochromic anemia.
2. Schizocytosis. The following diseases are responsible for an increase in the level of erythrocyte fragments in the blood - schizocytes: vasculitis, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, glomerulonephritis, uremia; March hemoglobinuria and the causes of DIC syndrome.
3. Microspherocytosis. A syndrome that is inherited in 75% of cases. The presence of an abnormal number of microspherocytes is caused by a gene mutation or a disruption in the production of substances that lead to pathological development of the plasma membrane of the erythrocyte, causing a decrease in its size. In a child, microspherocytosis occurs for a single reason - Minkowski-Choffard disease.
4. Macrocytosis. This condition occurs due to specific, usually hereditary, changes in the hematopoietic system - macrocytes are produced more than normal and the time balance between their reproduction and death is disrupted. Macrocytosis is characteristic of B12-deficiency anemia, hereditary non-spherocytic hemolytic anemia, Dyke-Young congenital hemolytic anemia, and can occur with malignant neoplasms, certain liver lesions and decreased thyroid function.
5. Mixed anisocytosis. Mixed type anisocytosis is characterized by an abnormal number of both large and small forms of red blood cells. If macrocytes predominate in the analysis, then the patient may have pernicious or B12-deficient anemia. If there are more microcytes, hypochromia and iron deficiency anemia are possible.

Degrees and symptoms

The rate of erythrocyte anisocytosis depends on the duration and severity of the disease, which caused an imbalance in the ratio between microcytes, macrocytes and normocytes. Depending on the level of content (%) of modified red blood cells, anisocytosis is divided into 4 degrees of severity:

1. Minor – below 30;
2. Moderate – from 30 to 50;
3. Pronounced – from 50 to 70;
4. Sharply expressed – above 70%.

Even when anisocytosis is reduced (indicators less than 30%), especially in a child, it is necessary to conduct additional studies of the changes that have occurred in the body in order to exclude other serious diseases.

All anisocytosis is characterized by the following symptoms, the magnitude of which depends on the duration of the underlying disease and the age of the patient:

• decreased performance, weakness, fatigue;
• decreased concentration;
• dryness, redness and tingling of the tongue, perversion of taste, cheilitis - seizures;
• nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing - Plummer-Vinson syndrome;
• dry skin, brittle hair and nails;
• impaired skin sensitivity;
• paleness of the lips, skin and blue discoloration of the nail plates;
• burning and itching in the vulva, decreased libido;
• increased heart rate, increased cardiac output;
• shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, fainting;
• tinnitus, headache, dizziness, fainting;
• changes in sleep patterns;
• abdominal pain, enlarged spleen and liver (sometimes).

Anisocytosis in pregnant women

Pregnant women may experience iron deficiency anemia and increased microcyte levels

During pregnancy or breastfeeding, conditions of moderate anisocytosis of erythrocytes quite often occur, which are easily corrected by diet, vitamin complexes and medications.

In most cases, pregnant women experience iron deficiency anemia and increased levels of microcytes. The cause is iron deficiency caused by fetal development.

It is necessary to carefully monitor the blood test results, and if they deviate from the norm, immediately take action to restore them, since ignoring such a factor can lead to fetal hypoxia, swelling and abnormal development, the threat of miscarriage or premature birth.

If anisocytosis is diagnosed when planning pregnancy, then if it is combined with poikilocytosis (change in the shape of red blood cells), it becomes a direct contraindication for IVF and requires appropriate therapeutic measures.

"Children's" anisocytosis

Various types of anisocytosis are possible in newborns, infants and older children. Microcytes above normal are present in the analysis of a child after any infectious disease.

Severe macrocytosis is considered normal and is observed as a physiological phenomenon in newborns, especially during the first two weeks of life. Physiological macrocytosis in newborns goes away on its own by the second month of life.

Diagnosis of anisocytosis of various forms in children can be more ominous warning signs of the presence of neuroblastoma, hypochromic anemia, chlorosis or Cooley's syndrome.

Diagnosis and treatment

Anisocytosis is detected during a general blood test and in some cases requires a more thorough study - drawing up a Price-Johnson distribution curve, displaying the percentage of all types of red blood cells. After performing the analysis, the results are entered into columns with the RDW-CV and RDW-SD indices.

In case of macrocytosis, it is necessary to perform an additional test for the level of folic acid in the blood, and to clarify the diagnosis of “Minkowski-Choffard disease” - a sternal puncture, a test for specific antibodies and a series of tests that will exclude hepatitis.

It is possible to change the quantitative indicators of anisocytosis only by curing the cause of its occurrence. Sometimes, to restore the balance of red blood cells, it is necessary to resort to surgical intervention.

For example, a common method of treating microspherocytosis against the background of severe hyperbilirubinemia is removal of the spleen, which normalizes the general condition and increases hemoglobin levels. However, in children under 10 years of age, removal is carried out only in extreme cases, when all other treatment methods have been exhausted.

If anisocytosis is detected in a blood test, the doctor, even before the diagnosis is finalized, will suggest an urgent change in the nutritional system and a review of the diet.

If there are no serious diseases, then a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and sufficient hours of rest and sleep will help get rid of anisocytosis and restore normality without resorting to special medications.

Hematologist

Higher education:

Hematologist

Samara State Medical University (SamSMU, KMI)

Level of education - Specialist
1993-1999

Additional education:

"Hematology"

Russian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education

In some patients' medical histories, the medical term anisocytosis sometimes appears; what it is, however, not everyone knows. The term itself is from the field of hematology and comes from the Greek words anisotropy (unequal) and cyta (cell). Anisocytosis is a pathological process in the blood in which its formed elements (platelets, leukocytes and erythrocytes) differ in size from normal. In this case, the number of increased or decreased elements exceeds a certain percentage level.

General information about blood

Blood moves through vessels and arteries, connects tissues and organs, delivers oxygen necessary for the body’s redox processes, and nutrients. It also performs protective and thermoregulatory functions, controls the acidity level (pH) of tissues and organs. It is a liquid substance consisting of formed, cellular elements (platelets, leukocytes and erythrocytes) and plasma, intercellular substance. In humans, blood cells are formed in the bone marrow of the ribs, skull, spine, and in children also in the outer phalanges of the limbs. Just like other participants in metabolism and vital functions of the body, blood can have its own diseases, deviations from the norm, and pathologies. A certain blood condition indicates good health or the presence of diseases.

Platelets are blood cells that do not have their own nucleus and are responsible for blood clotting. In the absence of platelets, any wound would be fatal to the body, since all the blood would flow out through it. Thanks to platelets, a blood clot forms at the site of vascular damage, blocking the lumen for blood to flow out.

Leukocytes are spherical blood cells that do not have independent coloring. Perform protective functions of the body. They move not only through blood vessels, but can penetrate through the walls of blood vessels to the localization of hostile microorganisms, viruses, and to a foreign body. Having reached the target, leukocytes surround it and create an obstacle to further spread throughout the body. For example, suppuration of the skin at the site of a splinter is the result of the work of leukocytes. The splinter is enveloped in them, creating a barrier for microbes that have entered the body with it to further advance throughout the body. Pus forms from dead leukocytes.

Erythrocytes - red blood cells, known as red blood cells, are involved in the transport of oxygen to tissues and organs, and also participate in the redox processes of the entire body.

Medical description of the pathology

Medicine clearly defines what anisocytosis is and what it is not. Anisocytosis is not an independent nosology, since it is a phenomenon, a process of changing the size of the diameter of blood cells, indicating the presence of trouble in the body.

Anisocytosis is detected by a general blood test during microscopic examination. Modern equipment in hematology laboratories allows for quantitative assessment of anisocytosis. The blood cells listed above must have certain sizes. The normal diameter of a red blood cell is 7.1-9.1 µm (micrometers), the diameter of a white blood cell is 15-16 µm and the diameter of a platelet is 3-4 µm. It is acceptable if 30% of blood cells have other parameters: 15% more than normal and 15% less. In other words, in a healthy person, at least 70% of blood cells have standard sizes.

The specificity of the clinical manifestation and the degree of severity directly depend on the type and type of anisocytosis. Pathologically altered cells have received their own names in medicine.

Using the example of red blood cells, whose normal diameter is 7.1-9.1 microns, we can distinguish:

• normocytes - cells that correspond in size to the norm;
• microcytes - cells with a diameter less than 7.1 microns;
• macrocytes - cells exceeding a diameter of 9 microns;
• megalocytes are cells significantly larger than normal (their diameter starts from 12 microns).

The predominance of microcytes, macrocytes, and even more so megalocytes in the blood is a clear indicator of anisocytosis of one or another type of cell, which is divided into:

• microanisocytosis (microcytosis) - the predominance of microcytes in the blood, i.e. cells with a diameter less than normal;
• macroanisocytosis (macrocytosis) - the predominance of macrocytes in the blood - cells with an increased diameter.

The process of anisocytosis is divided into stages:

• at stage I, the number of pathological cells in the blood does not exceed 50% of the total number;
• at stage II this figure is between 50% and 70%;
• at stage III, the number of pathological cells exceeds 70%.

Thus, if a microscopic analysis of a blood smear reveals approximately 60% of red blood cells with a diameter of 6.5 microns, then the doctor will record in the outpatient card that the patient has stage II erythrocyte microcytosis.

Mixed type of anisocytosis

There is also mixed type anisocytosis, when micro- and macrocytes are found in the blood simultaneously. This phenomenon occurs less frequently when there are 2 or more diseases at the same time or simply when there is a lack of folic acid in the body.

The mixed type of anisocytosis is usually divided into 4 degrees of severity, each designated by the number of pluses, which more clearly defines the degree of the pathological process compared to dividing by stages:

• 1 plus sign (+) - anisocytosis is insignificant in degree, in which altered cells are present in the blood in an amount of up to 25%;
• (++) - moderate anisocytosis, when the number of cells with sizes beyond the normal range already reaches half of all available;
• designation +++ - pronounced degree, when the diameter of 75% of all cells differs from the permissible values;
• 4 pluses (++++) - severe degree of mixed anisocytosis, i.e. more than 75% of blood cells have diameters that are unacceptable for normal.

Causes and signs of anisocytosis

Some diseases cause blood cells to grow or shrink in size. Depending on which blood cells are changed, a possible disease can be suspected. But based on anisocytosis alone, no diagnosis can be made. Diseases are diagnosed based on a set of symptoms and syndromes, combining them into 1 nosological unit. The process of anisocytosis occurs in such a large number of pathologies that it is practically not used as a diagnostic factor, but is taken into account as one of them.

With microcytosis, the process of blood hemoglobin synthesis is disrupted, and the presence of the following unfavorable factors and diseases is suspected:

• lack of vitamins A and B12;
• lack of iron in the body, which leads to various types of anemia: hemolytic, sideroblastic, iron deficiency.
• thalassemia (disorder of the process of hemoglobin synthesis);
• for some types of malignant tumors.

Macrocytosis is a cause of impaired DNA synthesis. It has a much larger list, and is observed with the following diseases and unfavorable factors:

1. Chronic liver diseases and cancer metastases to the liver.
2. Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a syndrome in which the number of cells produced by the body is less than the number of cells that die. Elderly people suffer from this syndrome.
3. Oncological diseases with penetration of metastases into the bone marrow. Almost always, red blood cells with an increased diameter can predominate in the blood.
4. Transfusion of pathological blood or blood transfusion, when the process of anisocytosis occurs in the donor’s blood. This is the only case when a wait-and-see approach is chosen; the cell sizes are restored to normal without treatment.
5. Alcoholism and smoking.
6. And again, hemolytic, sideroblastic and iron deficiency anemia, as well as types of anemia associated with chronic bleeding from hemorrhoids, ulcers, fissures, heavy menstruation.
7. Infectious and inflammatory processes in the body.
8. Helminths.
9. Intoxication.
10. Ectopic spleen.
11. As a side effect when taking certain medications, especially corticosteroids and some other hormones.

Additional data

When any laboratory test parameters change, including a change in the size of platelets, leukocytes or red blood cells, the blood circulates less efficiently and loses its functionality. In this case, the patient experiences a lot of unpleasant sensations, regardless of which cells have undergone changes. From the side of the central nervous system: a depressive state against the background of well-being and lack of stress, dizziness, increased fatigue, inability to perform monotonous work for a long time. Since the pathological process occurs in the blood, disorders of the cardiovascular system are observed: rapid breathing and pulse, shortness of breath and palpitations as after running. The condition occurs spontaneously, as if for no reason, does not last long and goes away on its own. The patient's skin, eyeballs and nails acquire an unhealthy color, pale with gray shades.

Anisocytosis is eliminated by treating the disease that caused it. In case of incurable, chronic conditions, such as oncology, its elimination is completely impossible. In such cases, the attending physician prescribes drugs that improve blood quality and reduce the degree of anisocytosis.

If anisocytosis is caused by a lack of iron in the body, a lack of vitamins A and B12, then a diet rich in these components and pharmaceutical drugs are prescribed. Under the influence of certain factors, the body consumes iron and vitamins more intensively: alcohol consumption, smoking, lactation, intoxication, old age and certain diseases.

To make a reliable diagnosis, there is often a need to conduct additional studies. But, in a number of situations, anisocytosis can provide recommendations for the treatment of the disease.

When describing, pay attention to the presence of platelets or red blood cells, the sizes of which differ sharply from the normal, average size. This condition is called anisocytosis.

A laboratory term that defines changes in blood cell parameters is what is anisocytosis. He reports that not everything is in order in the body.

To take a blood test for anisocytosis, no patient preparation is required. For a clinical blood test, it involves the preparation of a blood smear, in which the ratio of normal and modified red cells is calculated.

Causes

The causes of anisocytosis occur with the following anomalies:

• Deficiency of retinol and cyanocobalamin. Retinol is necessary for young cells to ensure their growth, and cyanocobalamin takes part in the synthesis of hemoglobin;
• Iron deficiency in the blood. This metal is part of heme, a functional group of hemoglobin;
• Oncological diseases. and the production of formed elements is systemic in nature;
• Disorders of the bone marrow, which loses the ability to form blood cells.
• Complications after.

Symptoms

Symptoms of anisocytosis are manifested by characteristic clinical signs:

• , the person is unable to work;
• Frequent heartbeats for no apparent reason;
• Attacks of shortness of breath;
• From time to time, paleness of the skin, nails and eyeballs appears.

Clinical diagnosis requires verification by laboratory tests.

Kinds

It is characterized by various forms of blood cell pathologies. There are macrocytosis, mixed type anisocytosis, microcytosis. Macrocytosis is characterized by the presence of abnormally large red blood cells, microcytosis is disproportionately small. If both microcytes and macrocytes are found in the blood smear, they speak of mixed type anisocytosis.

If less than a quarter of abnormal red blood cells are detected, the disorder is considered minor (+) and treatment for anisocytosis is usually not carried out. If up to half of the changed cells are detected (++), a moderate form of the disease is classified.

The presence of up to three quarters of modified cells (+++) is called a pronounced phase of the disease, and if the wrong type is found in all red blood cells (++++), then they speak of an acute degree of anisocytosis.

The blood test data is so informative that the doctor can easily make a reliable diagnosis and, at his own discretion, prescribe additional tests.

The detection of up to 50% of anisocytotic red blood cells in the blood indicates the development of anemia and requires clarification of the causes that caused it. Most often, you have to deal with problems associated with a lack of iron, folic acid (vitamin B3) and (or) cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), or with an increased need for these nutritional components.

Treatment

If the diagnosis of anisocytosis is confirmed, the disease is treated, which consists of eliminating the causes that caused the pathology.

Actually, it is not anisocytosis, as a symptom of anemia, that needs to be treated, but the anemia itself. First of all, it is established as a result of what reasons the anemia occurred.

If anemia occurs, you should not risk your own health and self-medicate, but consult a doctor. In the vast majority of cases, symptoms of anisocytosis are a consequence of the development of deficiency anemia. Therefore, treatment for blood anisocytosis consists of taking medications containing iron and vitamins B3 and B12, as well as organizing good nutrition and giving up bad habits.

By complete it should be understood one that provides the body’s need not only for iron and vitamins, but also for amino acids, macro and microelements and other biologically active substances.

with anemia are:

• Meat, butter;
• Liver, fish, oatmeal, breakfast cereals;
• Carrots, beets, tomatoes, zucchini;
• Apricots, plums, apples, quinces, raisins, cranberries;
• Pomegranate, orange, grapefruit.

Folk remedies for anemia:

• Tincture of nettle, strawberry leaves, string;
• Tincture of rosehip, dandelion, spinach;
• Tincture of shepherd's purse, water pepper, barberry leaves;
• A decoction of horsetail and burnet rhizomes.

If you have anemia, you must limit your intake of milk, coffee, tea, baked goods, Coca-Cola, vinegar, and brine, which interfere with the absorption of iron.

It is necessary to stop drinking alcoholic beverages, which inhibit hematopoietic processes and contribute to the development of complications.

It should be remembered that the use of any traditional medicine recipes and nutritionist advice should be carried out after the approval of the attending physician.