Lower Red Cells: What Does It Mean?

) may depend on a mild and simple problem to deal with from a therapeutic point of view or it may be the sign of a serious pathology.

Possible causes of low red blood cells include: anemia, recurrent infections, inflammation, bone marrow disorders, and tumors. Reduction of red blood cells can occur suddenly (as is the case, for example, from haemorrhages or post-transfusion hemolysis) or over time (eg chronic kidney disease).

Low erythrocytes may be evident after a blood test, including erythrocyte count and / or hematocrit.

more numerous.

The erythrocytes have the shape of a biconcave disc (slightly flattened in the center) and have a characteristic red color (hence the name) due to their hemoglobin content, a protein specialized in transporting oxygen to the various parts of the body.

Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and, when mature, are released into the bloodstream. The erythrocytes live an average of 120 days in the circulatory system and are subsequently removed in the spleen; for this, the bone marrow must continuously produce new ones, in order to replace the elements that are dead, destroyed or lost during a bleeding.

Too high or low erythrocyte values ​​can be a sign of some diseases. Anemic state is likely when the results of red blood cell counts, hematocrit and hemoglobin (Hb) fall below reference levels. Erythrocytes and Hb that increase above normal values, on the other hand, are indicative of polycythemia.

occupied by the erythrocytes) included in it.

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The "blood count (also called blood count) is used to evaluate the general state of health and is prescribed as a routine check on healthy subjects or as an aid in the diagnosis of various conditions, when the doctor suspects an" erythropenia (term that indicates a reduction of red blood cells). This test can also be used to evaluate and monitor pathological conditions at regular intervals involving changes in the patient's red blood cells, such as anemia.

• The red blood cell count quantifies the total number of erythrocytes present in the individual's blood and is often used in the general assessment of the person's health as part of the blood count. The value resulting from the count is expressed as the number of red blood cells per microliter of blood. Usually, changes in count mirror changes in hematocrit and hemoglobin values.
• The hematocrit expresses the relationship between the liquid part of the blood (plasma) and the corpuscular part, that is, the part occupied mainly by red blood cells. This test is also prescribed as a generic check to assess the state of health, generally together with the determination hemoglobin (Hb). The hematocrit is an index expressed as a percentage or fraction. For example, a hematocrit value of 35% means that there are 35ml of red blood cells in 100ml of blood.

Both hematocrit and total red blood cell count indicate that there is a problem with the production of red blood cells and / or their survival, but do not indicate the underlying cause.For this reason, increases or decreases in values ​​must be interpreted together with other parameters, such as the hemoglobin value, the reticulocyte count and / or the erythrocyte indices (MCV, MCH and RDW).