Macrocytic Anemia

Anemias are one of the most common types of blood disorders in the world and can be generally classified as a decreased amount of red blood cells/hemoglobin contained in the blood stream.2 There is more than one type of anemia and they can be classified into Microcytic, Normocytic, and Macrocytic Anemias. Microcytic is usually caused by a deficit of iron in the blood, Normocytic could be due to hemolysis or acute blood loss, and Macrocytic is caused by B12 or Folate deficiency.1,2 Although these are the general causes of each type they are not the only causes for each type of anemia. Although there are many different types of anemia that can be discussed for our patient iron deficient or microcytic anemia will be the main focused based on lab …show more content…
The export of iron from cellular sites is regulated by a protein called hepcidin, when iron is low hepcidin is reduced and ferroportin is increased which binds to iron and brings it into the cell. The iron is then transferred from the cytoplasm of enterocytes to plasma transferrin which binds free levels of iron in the blood and therefore attempting to increase levels of iron.1 Iron is found mostly in hemoglobin for the transfer of oxygen and the increased demand in pregnancy overcomes the compensatory mechanism for iron regeneration therefore leading to a low hemoglobin …show more content…
In the event of a true diagnosed microcytic anemia the recommended treatment would be oral iron. Ferrous sulfate 325mg one to three times daily.2 It can take weeks to months for the anemia to subside so it is best to continue to do lab work every few weeks. Important counseling points to the patient would be that iron usually causes constipation and should be taken with vitamin C which increases intestinal absorption of iron. In JJ’s circumstance she would need to be counseled to continue to take her prenatal vitamins after pregnancy in order to keep her iron levels up as the body restores them over