A patient is found to be deficient in folate. This patient is anemic, and a complete blood count indicates that the MCV is 105 fL (normal range: 80-96) and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) is 34 g/dL (normal range: 32-36). The anemia is thus macrocytic and normochromic. In this patient, how would you predict that the MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin) would compare to the normal range?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The MCH is calculated by dividing the total hemoglobin by the number of red blood cells, and it tends to be elevated in macrocytic anemias because the larger red blood cells contain more hemoglobin.  These red blood cells are large (macrocytic) but have a normal hemoglobin concentration (normal MCHC). Since MCH is mean hemoglobin content per red cell, this value must be elevated since the cells are large and the concentration in the cell is normal.

A Patient Is Found to Be Deficient in Folate