Each of us met with the fact that sometimes, with any disease or just at a preventive examination, the doctor gave a referral for a general blood test. Among all the indicators, there was one, rather incomprehensible - MCHC. What is this indicator, why is it determined and how does it change depending on the state of the organism?
What is MCHC?
MCHC - erythrocyte index characterizing the state of our erythrocytes - the main blood cells. This index shows how much hemoglobin is contained in all red blood cells.
Hemoglobin is the main blood protein responsible for the transport of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood. Thus, MCHC shows how much oxygen can be bound and transported by all red blood cells.
The main way to determine MCHC is a blood test. Deciphering it indicates a reduced or increased amount of hemoglobin and determines the indications for treatment (if necessary).
This index is determined together with some others, for example, such as the average volume of an erythrocyte, the average content of hemoglobin in an erythrocyte. These indicators indicate the activity and function althe usefulness of erythrocytes.
These indicators must be determined if the patient has anemia of various origins (decrease in the content of erythrocytes in the blood or hemoglobin), hereditary diseases associated with the formation of defective erythrocytes, and also (indirectly) with respiratory failure.
The norm of this indicator
What is the normal MCHC in a blood test? This unit is measured in grams per liter.
Depending on gender and age, there are several variants of the norm:
- In children under 2 weeks old, the norm of this indicator ranges from 280 to 350 g/l.
- Up to 4 months, the indicators slightly increase - up to 370 g / l, and up to 12 years they practically do not change.
- From the age of 12, there is a slight difference in this indicator: for girls, the maximum is 360 g / l, and for boys - up to 380. This is due to the onset of menstrual function, blood loss and hormonal changes.
- Until the age of 18, this difference remains; from 18 to 45 years old, the indicators are leveling off - 320-360g / l.
- From the age of 45 to old age, the minimum value of this indicator decreases - MCHC in the blood test of women is 300 g / l, and in men it remains unchanged (a decrease can be observed after 75 years). All this is due to the aging of the body and a decrease in the formation of new cells.
As you can see, the indicator is relatively constant and practically does not change throughout life. What other factors may affect MCHC levels?
Blood test - transcript
The norm of this indicator, as was said, lies in the range from 320 to 380 g / l. Together with it, it is imperative to determine the average volume of an erythrocyte (MCV) and the average concentration of hemoglobin in one erythrocyte (MCH). These indicators are directly dependent on each other (if one changes, the others also change). This is carried out for the differential diagnosis of anemia from each other, as well as to determine the usefulness of red blood cells and indications for blood transfusion.
In addition to them, the amount of hemoglobin should also be determined. If there is a normal amount with MCHC within the normal range, attention should be paid to MCH. With its decrease, one can judge the presence of microcytic polycythemia (abundant saturation of the blood with small, low-functional erythrocytes). Inverse data (decrease in MCHC and hemoglobin with normal MCV and MCH) indicate a violation of the synthesis of the transport protein.
Diseases leading to a change in this indicator
What can lead to a change in this erythrocyte index?
The main disease in which this indicator changes is anemia.
They can be of various origins. Allocate anemia associated with a violation of the synthesis of red blood cells, with their increased decay, with their loss.
The first group of anemias includes the pathology of the erythrocyte germ. It can be observed during irradiation, as well as in certain diseases (gastritis,COPD).
Anemias of the second group are manifested as a result of excessive activity of the spleen - the main site of the breakdown of red blood cells. This manifests itself, most often, with hypersplenism syndrome, when pathological activity of spleen cells is observed.
Anemia associated with blood loss is observed in women with heavy periods, as well as in patients with bleeding gastric and duodenal ulcers.
It is under these conditions that a change in MCHC is usually observed. A blood test (deciphering it) allows you to determine the nature of anemia.
Decrease in the level of this index
The hemoglobin saturation of erythrocytes is almost constant. It is used to determine the error in the operation of analyzer devices.
The main method for determining MCHC is a blood test. This indicator is increased, most often as a result of a hardware error (conditions leading to its increase are extremely rare). Usually there is a decrease in hemoglobin volume.
It also happens that with a normal, working apparatus, a low level of this erythrocyte index is determined. A decrease in concentration is most often observed with anemia, which was mentioned above. The body does not have time to synthesize new, full-fledged red blood cells, and the lack of cells needs to be replenished. It is because of this that cells are formed with less than necessary amount of hemoglobin. These cells are not able to fully perform their function, which leads to the development of tissue hypoxia.
In some cases, there may be errors in the calculations (incorrect conditions for blood sampling, contamination of the test tube), which leads to a decrease in the indicator. In such a case, the number of MCHCs must be re-determined. A blood test (it should already be deciphered by a laboratory assistant in order to avoid calculation errors) will have to be retaken.
Increase in indicator
Extremely rare, but it happens that the hemoglobin concentration may exceed the norm. This is due to the development of hereditary diseases - hyperchromic anemia, as a result of which the shape of red blood cells is disturbed (normally it is disc-shaped, and in pathology it is oval, spherical). In addition, with hyperosmolar disorders (associated with electrolyte composition of the blood), the relative amount of hemoglobin may increase, which suggests a repeated blood test to determine MCHC. It can be increased in the case of the formation of erythrocytes normal in volume, but with an increase in the amount of hemoglobin in them (which will inevitably lead to an increase in the color index).
The conditions are quite rare, and usually their manifestation is attributed to negligence in the conduct of the study (except for spherocytosis - it is perfectly determined even in a light microscope).
That is why, usually, a second study is required to determine the concentration of MCHC on another device.
Mistakes in research
Sometimes you can observe the following picture when determining the MCHC. Blood test (decoding -elevated) is carried out with a number of violations. With a preliminary determination of the shape of erythrocytes and the presence of normal, disc-shaped cells, it should immediately be suspected that the study was carried out incorrectly. This can be facilitated by a poorly washed tube with remnants of someone else's blood, expired reagents, and incorrect analyzer settings. When re-examined on another machine or when manually counted, the MCHC level is usually within the normal range (if anemia has not been detected before).
Sometimes blood is taken with a syringe. As a result, damage to red blood cells occurs with the release of hemoglobin into the plasma, due to which a small level of MCHC is sometimes determined. A blood test (decoding - lowered) indicates either the presence of anemia (if all the conditions of the study are met) or a significant damage to erythrocytes, which created a picture of a decrease in the level of the erythrocyte index.
What should be done when the rate drops?
As mentioned, the decrease in MCHC is due to a decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the blood. Some compulsory measures are being taken to improve it.
First of all, the patient's diet is corrected. With a decrease in the level of hemoglobin in plasma, the patient is shown taking foods such as apples, beef and pork liver, pomegranates and pomegranate juice, meat. All of them help to improve the synthesis of hemoglobin and increase its concentration (as well as the level of MCHC) in the blood. After some course of “diet therapy”, a general blood test should be performed. Deciphering MCHC will determine the effectiveness of receptionof these products, the effectiveness of such a “treatment” and the determination of indications for taking medications.
If the products do not help, it is necessary to resort to parenteral administration of vitamins and iron preparations to normalize the state of the body.
Where is the research being done?
If you are worried about weakness, fatigue, weakness for a long time, then all this may indicate the development of anemia. Therefore, it is imperative to determine the MCHC (blood test). Decoding will allow you to understand what is happening to you.
This analysis can be taken at any he althcare facility where there is a more or less equipped laboratory. In outpatient clinics, as a rule, there is no such equipment, so the patient is forced to go to the city or district hospital (polyclinic).
The procedure is quite fast. Within a few hours, you can get a ready-made blood test. MCHC (the norm of which was mentioned above), more precisely, its level, will allow you to determine whether the matter lies in anemia or whether there is ordinary fatigue and moral overstrain.
Analysis is usually carried out as prescribed by a doctor, although you can do it for a fee. Its price is low, which makes it affordable for anyone.
Why is the definition of this indicator so important?
Anemia is a formidable harbinger of various disorders in the body. If it is not diagnosed in time, the condition can be so triggered that the patient will need, if not a hematopoietic tissue transplant, then a massive transfusion of the componentsblood (in particular, erythrocyte mass). That is why, in the presence of the first symptoms of anemia, it is necessary to conduct a blood test and carefully study its indicators. It is not necessary, however, to try to cure yourself; it is better to show the results of the tests to the doctor so that he determines the further tactics of treatment and can timely identify and prevent many malfunctions in the body. Self-medication, in this case, can only harm and worsen everything.
If the treatment was started in a timely manner, it is possible to bring all blood counts to normal levels and return the patient to his daily activities.
