# Normocytic anemia > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Normocytic_anemia > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Normocytic_anemia.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normocytic_anemia > Source revision: 1292229555 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Type of anemia}} '''Normocytic anemia''' is a type of [anemia](/source/anemia) and is a common issue that occurs for people typically over 85 years old. Its prevalence increases with age, reaching 44 percent in men older than 85 years.{{cite journal |vauthors=Brill JR, Baumgardner DJ |date=November 2000 |title=Normocytic anemia |url=http://www.aafp.org/afp/20001115/2255.html |journal=[Am Fam Physician](/source/Am_Fam_Physician) |volume=62 |issue=10 |pages=2255–64 |pmid=11126852 |access-date=2008-07-12 |archive-date=2011-06-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606042209/http://www.aafp.org/afp/20001115/2255.html |url-status=dead }} The most common type of normocytic anemia is anemia of chronic disease. ==Classification== An anemia is normocytic when the red blood cells (RBCs) are of normal size. RBCs are normocytic when the [mean corpuscular volume](/source/mean_corpuscular_volume) (MCV) is between 80 and 100 [femtolitres](/source/Femtolitre) (fL), which is within the normal and expected range. However, the [hematocrit](/source/hematocrit) and [hemoglobin](/source/hemoglobin) are decreased. In contrast, [microcytic anemia](/source/microcytic_anemia)s are defined as an anemia with a mean corpuscular volume (MCV) less than 80 fL and [macrocytic anemia](/source/macrocytic_anemia)s have a mean corpuscular volume over 100 fL. == Diagnosis == To aid with determining the underlying cause of the normocytic anemia, a lab test is done on [reticulocyte](/source/reticulocyte) count.{{Cite journal |last=Vieth |first=Julia |date=2017 |title=Anemia |url=https://www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/playContent/1-s2.0-S0889858817301326?returnurl=null&referrer=null |journal=Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America |volume=31 |issue=6 |pages=1045–1060 |doi=10.1016/j.hoc.2017.08.008 |pmid=29078923 |via=[Elsevier Science Direct](/source/Elsevier_Science_Direct)|url-access=subscription }} A reticulocyte count that is high, normal or low will aid with the classification process. A high reticulocyte count signifies that bone marrow processes are normal. A low reticulocyte count would signify there is a problem at the level of the bone marrow, which produce the [stem cells](/source/Stem_cell). Acute blood loss would result in a high reticulocyte count, as bone marrow processes are normal and the bone marrow responds accordingly to the body's need for blood. ==Causes== The issue is thought of as representing any of the following: * An acute loss of blood of a substantial volume; * a decreased production of normal-sized red blood cells (e.g., [anemia of chronic disease](/source/anemia_of_chronic_disease), [aplastic anemia](/source/aplastic_anemia)); * an increased production of [HbS](/source/Sickle_cell_disease) as seen in sickle cell disease (not [sickle cell trait](/source/sickle_cell_trait)); * an increased destruction or loss of red blood cells (e.g., [hemolysis](/source/hemolysis), posthemorrhagic anemia, [hypersplenism](/source/hypersplenism)); * an uncompensated increase in [plasma](/source/Blood_plasma) volume (e.g., [pregnancy](/source/pregnancy), [fluid overload](/source/fluid_overload)); * a B2 ([riboflavin](/source/riboflavin)) deficiencyMedical Physiology by Kibble and Halsey p295 * a B6 ([pyridoxine](/source/pyridoxine)) deficiency * or a mixture of conditions producing [microcytic](/source/microcytic_anemia) and [macrocytic anemia](/source/macrocytic_anemia). Blood loss, suppressed production of RBCs or hemolysis represent most cases of normocytic anemia. In blood loss, morphologic findings are generally unremarkable, except after 12 to 24 hrs where [polychromasia](/source/polychromasia) appears. For reduced production of RBCs, like with low erythropoietin, the RBC morphology is unremarkable.{{cite journal|last1=Ford|first1=J.|title=Red blood cell morphology|journal=International Journal of Laboratory Hematology|date=June 2013|volume=35|issue=3|pages=351–357|doi=10.1111/ijlh.12082|pmid=23480230|doi-access=free}} Patients with disordered RBC production, e.g. [myelodysplastic syndrome](/source/myelodysplastic_syndrome), may have a dual population of [elliptocytes](/source/Elliptocyte), [teardrop cells](/source/Teardrop_cell), or other [poikilocytes](/source/poikilocytosis) as well as a [nucleated RBCs](/source/Nucleated_red_blood_cell). Hemolysis will often demonstrate poikilocytes specific to a cause or mechanism, e.g. [bite cells](/source/bite_cells) and/or blister cells for oxidative hemolysis, [acanthocytes](/source/acanthocytes) for [pyruvate kinase deficiency](/source/pyruvate_kinase_deficiency) or [McLeod phenotype](/source/McLeod_phenotype), [sickle cells](/source/sickle_cells) for [sickle cell anemia](/source/sickle_cell_anemia), [spherocytes](/source/spherocytes) for immune-mediated hemolysis or [hereditary spherocytosis](/source/hereditary_spherocytosis), [elliptocytosis](/source/elliptocytosis) for [iron deficiency](/source/iron_deficiency) or hereditary elliptocytosis and [schistocytes](/source/Schistocyte) for [intravascular hemolysis](/source/intravascular_hemolysis). Many [hemolytic anemias](/source/Hemolytic_anemia) show multiple poikilocytes such as [G6PD deficiency](/source/G6pd_deficiency), which may show blister and bites cells as well as [shistocytes](/source/Schistocyte). Neonatal hemolysis may not follow the classic patterns as in adults. == Treatment == Treatment will depend on the cause of the normocytic anemia. Treatment for anemia due to chronic diseases, such as [kidney disease](/source/kidney_disease), focus on healing the primary condition first. Dietary foods or supplements should be added if anemia is due to a lack of a particular vitamin. [Erythropoietin](/source/Erythropoietin) may be considered if anemia is severe. Erythropoietin will stimulate the bone marrow to make more blood cells.{{Cite web|title=Normocytic anemia|url=https://www.medigoo.com/articles/normocytic-anemia/|access-date=2020-12-28|website=MediGoo - Health Medical Tests and Free Health Medical Information|language=en-US}} == References == {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.aafp.org/afp/20001115/2264ph.html Entry on] [aafp.org](/source/American_Academy_of_Family_Physicians) {{Diseases of RBCs}} Category:Anemias Category:Hematopathology --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Normocytic anemia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normocytic_anemia) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normocytic_anemia?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.