Language
Country/Area
No result found
The Mystery of Iron Deficiency: Why Are Your Red Blood Cells Turning Pale?
Regarding pale red blood cells, the medical community calls it "hypochromic anemia." The name stems from the reduction in the color of red blood cells, which in some cases can be a health warning sign. According to clinical diagnosis, the color of these red blood cells is not as dark as normal red blood cells, which may be related to the decrease in the amount of hemoglobin in the red blood cells.
Clinically, this change can be measured by mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) or mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC).
The normal shape of a red blood cell is a biconcave disc with a light-colored area in the center when viewed under a microscope. In hypochromic red blood cells, this area increases in size. This reduction in color is due to a decrease in the proportion of hemoglobin within the red blood cells relative to the volume of the cell. Generally speaking, the normal range of MCH in normal adults is between 27 and 33 g/cell, while the normal range of MCHC is between 33 and 36 g/dL.
The most common causes of hypochromic anemia are iron deficiency and thalassemia. This anemia was historically called "chloride disease" because the patient's skin often became pale and was accompanied by common symptoms such as listlessness, shortness of breath, indigestion, headaches, loss of appetite and irregular menstruation.
Historical BackgroundAs early as 1554, German physician Johannes Lange described a condition he called "virgin disease," which he believed was more common in virgins, and listed a number of symptoms. These include pale appearance, aversion to food (especially meat), difficulty breathing, and edema. He advised patients to "live with men and have sexual relations," arguing that pregnancy could cure the disease.
In 1615, French doctor Jean Varandal coined the term "chlorine disease". The previous name "chlorine disease" came from the ancient Greek word meaning "green and yellow". "Pale" or "fresh". In 1587, English physician Thomas Sydenham classified chloride disease as a nervous disease and advocated the efficacy of iron supplements, which laid the foundation for later treatments.
The symptoms of chlorine disease bear similarities to contemporary descriptions of hypochromic anemia, but its underlying cause has been the subject of much debate and research.
Acquired and inherited forms
Hypochromic anemia can be caused by vitamin B6 deficiency, inadequate iron intake, reduced absorption, or excessive iron loss. It can be caused by infections (such as hookworms) or other diseases (such as anemia of chronic disease), drug therapy, copper poisoning, and lead poisoning. An acquired form of the disease, called Fabry's syndrome, may also cause severe gastrointestinal bleeding.
From a genetic point of view, hypochromic anemia occurs in patients with mutations in the SLC11A2 gene, which prevents red blood cells from using iron in the blood, resulting in symptoms of anemia from birth. This condition is accompanied by anemia, paleness, and slow growth, while iron accumulation in the body can cause liver damage.
Not only that, thalassemia and certain congenital diseases (such as Benjamin's anemia) can also cause hypochromic anemia, which makes the impact of the disease more widespread.
Final Thoughts
With the advancement of medicine, we have a better understanding of the factors that affect the color of red blood cells, but there are still many problems that need to be solved. Faced with the myriad changes in anemia, we can’t help but ask: Will future research into the phenomenon of red blood cell discoloration lead to new treatment options or insights?
