Blood cells are divided into protective and transport. Protective cells include leukocytes and platelets. Erythrocytes are transport.
What are red blood cells
RBCs are red blood cells. The main function they perform is the transport of blood gases (carbon dioxide and oxygen) from the tissues to the lungs and back.
To assess the state of these cells, some constant indicators are determined. These include the number of erythrocytes, erythrocyte volume, their size and shape.
The number of red blood cells is determined in the general blood test. The size and shape of the cells - with a microscopic examination of a blood smear. And the average volume of erythrocytes and the concentration of hemoglobin are determined only with special studies. Based on the data obtained, their functional features are judged.
In some diseases, various indicators of these cells may change.
How can you determine the average volume of an erythrocyte? For this, an extended general blood test is used, in which it is possible to determine the volume of one cell.
Researcherythrocytes
Determination of the average volume of erythrocytes is carried out by mathematical calculation. The indicator is determined by dividing the hematocrit by the average number of red blood cells.
This indicator plays a decisive role in the diagnosis of anemia with a change in the size of red blood cells, which leads to their inferiority and impaired physiological function. In this regard, the development of a clinical picture corresponding to each disease is observed.
A normal volume is about 90 femtoliters. An increase in this number is observed with the development of macrocytic anemia. A decrease in volume leads to the development of microspherocytosis and microcytic anemia. Such red blood cells quickly die due to their inferiority.
The average volume of erythrocytes is lowered precisely in these diseases. This is provoked by a lack of certain nutrients necessary for the normal growth and development of red blood cells.
Anemia
As mentioned, the main diseases in which the average volume of red blood cells is lowered are anemia. All of them differ in the lack of a certain substance, which leads to improper formation of red blood cells and, accordingly, a violation of their function. It was mentioned above that erythrocytes are the main transport elements of blood, i.e., first of all, oxygen delivery and exchange with carbon dioxide will be disrupted.
There are such types of anemia as iron deficiency, sideroblastic anemia,thalassemia. All these diseases, with untimely provision of medical care, can lead to significant violations of all systems and organs of the patient. It is possible to involve other elements of hematopoiesis in the pathological process.
This problem is mainly de alt with by hematologists, although the primary diagnosis of these diseases should be carried out by district therapists.
Because of what do these anemias develop, and what manifestations are typical for each of them? Why does it happen that the average volume of erythrocytes is reduced?
Anemia associated with a lack of iron in the blood
Iron deficiency anemia is the most common. This type of pathology develops as a result of a violation of the synthesis of hemoglobin, the main transport protein contained in red blood cells. This molecule is responsible for binding the oxygen inhaled in the lungs and transporting it to the tissues.
Iron is the main ion needed to build the hemoglobin molecule. With its lack in order to compensate for the need for oxygen, the body begins to produce small red blood cells (i.e., the qualitative function is replaced by the number of cells).
All these red blood cells are smaller than normal. Accordingly, the average volume of erythrocytes is reduced in each cell. Such elements cannot fully supply tissues with oxygen, which provokes the development of the corresponding clinical picture.
Despite the fact that red blood cells are formed much smaller than they should be,their number remains within the normal range. It flows and is treated the easiest of all the above forms of anemia.
Thalassemia
Thalassemia is a genetic disorder that results in the production of abnormal hemoglobins. There are three degrees of severity of the disease - mild, moderate and severe.
In this disease, a point mutation has a significant impact on the structure of the entire hemoglobin molecule. As a result of a genetic failure, hemoglobin chains cease to form, as a result of which it becomes inferior. Such hemoglobin cannot exist in a stable state, and what does this mean? Red blood cells carrying such a molecule are unable to stay in the bloodstream for a long time. Their hemolysis develops, which leads to a significant deterioration in the patient's condition and the development of shock.
Due to the fact that defective hemoglobin is produced, the erythrocyte cannot become the way it should be. Because of this, the volume of red blood cells decreases, there is a violation of the transport function.
The disease is quite common, making it one of the main causes of reduced red blood cell volume.
Sideroblastic anemia
This condition is characterized by a lack of vitamin B6, resulting in a disruption in the synthetic processes resulting in defective hemoglobin. In such a molecule of this protein, there are not enough coproporphyrins and proporphyrins. Because of this, oxygen binding by erythrocytes is disrupted, their volume decreases.
Because of the wrong synthesis, they startdefective erythroblasts are formed with the accumulation of iron in the cytoplasm of the cell. Visually, such cells are determined under a microscope in the form of erythroblasts with cytoplasmic inclusions.
As a result of the synthesis of defective erythrocytes, a clinic of severe anemia develops. Defective erythrocytes practically do not perform a transport function, which leads to a complication of metabolic processes and the vital activity of the whole organism. The number of red blood cells in this disease is not disturbed, but they quickly die.
This disease requires emergency intervention with appropriate therapy. In case of untimely assistance, a fatal outcome is possible.
