Why is RBC Microcytic in iron deficiency anemia?

Microcytic anemias are caused by conditions that prevent your body from producing enough hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a component of your blood. It helps transport oxygen to your tissues and gives your red blood cells their red color. Iron deficiency causes most microcytic anemias.

Why does iron deficiency cause small red blood cells?

Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. As the name implies, iron deficiency anemia is due to insufficient iron. Without enough iron, your body can’t produce enough of a substance in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen (hemoglobin).

What happens to RBC in iron deficiency?

Iron deficiency in the body limits the synthesis of heme, a prosthetic group of hemoglobin that in turn limits the synthesis of hemoglobin and decreases the production of red blood cells (RBCs) in the bone marrow resulting in anemia.

What are the causes of Microcytic anemia?

Causes of microcytic anemia

• Thalassemia. Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that parents can pass down to their children as a result of abnormal genes.
• Anemia of chronic disease. Certain chronic diseases and conditions can cause microcytic anemia.
• Iron deficiency anemia.
• Lead poisoning.
• Sideroblastic anemia.

Why does iron deficiency cause splenomegaly?

With the worsening of anemia, the degree of compensatory extramedullary hematopoiesis in the body increases, and the incidence of splenomegaly also increases. This hypothesis has been confirmed in recent studies.

Is iron deficiency anemia Microcytic?

Microcytic anemia is defined as the presence of small, often hypochromic, red blood cells in a peripheral blood smear and is usually characterized by a low MCV (less than 83 micron 3). Iron deficiency is the most common cause of microcytic anemia.

Does iron deficiency cause Hepatosplenomegaly?

A triad of iron deficiency anemia, hepatosplenomegaly and growth retardation occurring in tandem with zinc deficiency has been reported in the past as components of either Prasad’s syndrome or hypopituitarism. There are no documented cases of such triad occurring in the presence of normal serum zinc levels.

Can iron deficiency anemia cause an enlarged spleen?

Signs and symptoms of iron deficiency may include brittle nails, swelling or soreness of the tongue, cracks in the sides of the mouth, an enlarged spleen, and frequent infections.

Does iron deficiency cause dark circles?

Anemia or an iron deficiency can result in dark eye circles as not enough oxygen reaches the body’s tissues. Liver problems can also be a cause. Any medications that make blood vessels dilate can cause eye circles to darken as well.

Can low iron cause itchy scalp?

Iron deficiency is very common in the U.S. — especially among women — and can be diagnosed with a simple blood test. Sometimes an iron deficiency can cause severely itchy and red skin. The good news is that increasing your iron intake will often make the itchiness go away.