Folate deficiency laboratory findings: Difference between revisions

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First line investigations include the following:
First line investigations include the following:
*Examination of peripheral blood smear : Macrocytic anemia and hypersegmented neutrophils are classically seen in folate deficiency. Anisocytosis and poikilocytosis can also be observed.
* Complete blood count:
*Complete Blood Count : Low hemoglobin, Low hematocrit, elevated MCV and MCH, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia.
** Decreased [[hemoglobin]] and hematocrit levels
*Reticulocyte count :
** Increased [[mean corpuscular volume]]  (MCV >95 fl often >110) and [[mean corpuscular hemoglobin]] (MCH)
** Low corrected reticulocyte count which indicates decreased production by the bone marrow.
** The [[platelet]] count may be reduced.
* Examination of peripheral blood smear :
** [[Neutrophil granulocyte|Neutrophil granulocytes]] may show multisegmented nuclei ("senile [[neutrophil]]"), due to decreased production and a compensatory prolonged lifespan for circulating [[neutrophils]].
** [[Anisocytosis]] (increased variation in [[RBC]] size) and [[poikilocytosis]] (abnormally shaped RBCs).
** Macrocytes (larger than normal [[RBCs]]) are present.
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[[MCV]] is often >110. [[Hematocrit]] can often be as low as 15.  Elevated [[LDH]] and [[bilirubin]] are seen since dyserythopoesis leads to destruction of >90% of [[RBC]] precursors.  Hypersegmentation of [[PMNs]] is quite sensitive (>5% with 5 or more lobes or >1% with 6 lobes).  [[Reticulocyte]], [[WBC]] and [[platelets]] are low to normal.  In one series of patients with [[B12 deficiency]], 64% had a [[MCV]] greater than 100, and only 29% had [[anemia]]. In general the [[blood film]] can point towards [[vitamin deficiency]]:
ad [[anemia|mia]] [[blood film|m]]
* Complete blood count:
* Complete blood count:
** Decreased [[hemoglobin]] and hematocrit levels
** Decreased [[hemoglobin]] and hematocrit levels
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** The [[platelet]] count may be reduced.
** The [[platelet]] count may be reduced.
* Examination of peripheral blood smear :
* Examination of peripheral blood smear :
** [[Neutrophil granulocyte|Neutrophil granulocytes]] may show multisegmented nuclei ("senile [[neutrophil]]"). This is thought to be due to decreased production and a compensatory prolonged lifespan for circulating [[neutrophils]].
** [[Neutrophil granulocyte|Neutrophil granulocytes]] may show multisegmented nuclei ("senile [[neutrophil]]"), due to decreased production and a compensatory prolonged lifespan for circulating [[neutrophils]].
** [[Anisocytosis]] (increased variation in [[RBC]] size) and [[poikilocytosis]] (abnormally shaped RBCs).
** [[Anisocytosis]] (increased variation in [[RBC]] size) and [[poikilocytosis]] (abnormally shaped RBCs).
** Macrocytes (larger than normal [[RBCs]]) are present.
** Macrocytes (larger than normal [[RBCs]]) are present.
** Ovalocytes (oval shaped RBCs) are present.
**  
* [[Bone marrow]] (not normally checked in a patient suspected of [[megaloblastic anemia]]) shows megaloblastic [[hyperplasia]].
* [[Bone marrow]] (not normally checked in a patient suspected of [[megaloblastic anemia]]) shows megaloblastic [[hyperplasia]].
* [[Howell-Jolly body|Howell-Jolly bodies]] ([[chromosomal]] remnant) also present.
* [[Howell-Jolly body|Howell-Jolly bodies]] ([[chromosomal]] remnant) also present.

Revision as of 10:54, 28 January 2019

Folate deficiency Microchapters

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

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Overview

Laboratory Findings

First line investigations include the following:

Reference Range
Folic Acid in Serum/Plasma Deficiency 3.6-15 mg/dl
Adequate Folic Acid Supply > 4 ug/l
Erythrocyte Folic Acid 120-800 ug/l

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Blood chemistries will also show:icai in

References

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