macrocytic anaemia

Last reviewed 01/2018

Macrocytic anaemias have a MCV > 96 femtolitres.

The commonest causes of macrocytic anaemia are vitamin B12 and folate deficiency, both of which cause megaloblastic haemopoiesis on the bone marrow examination.

Normoblastic haemopoiesis is seen in the other causes of macrocytic anaemia such as alcoholic liver disease, hypothyroidism and acute blood loss.