anisocytosis is a medical term that means size disparity of some cells, mainly in the red blood cells of the blood.
The word comes from the Greek, where years means "unequal", kytos means "cell" and ose means "increase".
The expression erythrocyte anisocytosis refers to the difference in sizes of erythrocytes or Red Cells, but known as red blood cells. Anisocytosis can be mild, moderate or severe.
the acronym RDW (Red Cell Distribution Width), represents the distribution of erythrocyte surfaces and is the index that indicates the difference between the size of red blood cells. This index makes it possible to differentiate iron deficiency anemia from thalassemia, since thalassemia has a normal RDW value, whereas this value is altered in the case of iron deficiency anemia.
RDW reference values are 11.5% - 14.5%. A change in these values can be caused by alcohol abuse, anemia caused by folic acid deficiency, hemolytic anemia, iron deficiency anemia, pernicious anemia, sickle cell anemia or by the chemical known as erythropoietin.
Microcytosis and Macrocytosis
When in a blood sample there is a increase the size of red blood cells, we are facing the macrocytosis. THE microcytosis occurs when the opposite happens, that is, a decrease the size of the red blood cells.
In a blood count, the VCM (Average Corpuscular Volume) indicates the average volume of red blood cells, being an important index as it facilitates the observation of the size of red blood cells and the diagnosis of anemia.
When the VCM is a low value and the RDW is normal, the homogeneous microcytosis. If under these circumstances the RDW is high, it occurs heterogeneous microcytosis.
Microcytosis can be caused by anemia caused by chronic diseases (kidney and liver diseases), losses insensitive blood, iron deficiency (iron deficiency anemia), folate deficiency, smoking or syndromes thalassemic.
When the VCM is a high value, and the RDW is normal, the homogeneous macrocytosis. If under these circumstances the RDW is high, heterogeneous macrocytosis.
Macrocytosis can be caused by Vitamin B12 deficiency or excessive alcohol consumption.
