What is megaloblastic anemia?

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Study for the Blood, Immune, and Hematologic Disorders Test. Improve your knowledge with our multiple choice questions. Each question provides hints and explanations. Prepare thoroughly for your exam!

Multiple Choice

What is megaloblastic anemia?

Explanation:
Megaloblastic anemia is a macrocytic form of anemia caused by impaired DNA synthesis in developing red blood cells, so the marrow makes oversized, abnormal cells called megaloblasts and the circulating RBCs are larger than normal. The common cause is deficiency of vitamin B12 or folate, which disrupts DNA replication and leads to asynchrony between the nucleus and cytoplasm during maturation. That’s why the defining feature is RBCs that are abnormal and large. By comparison, microcytic anemia has small RBCs (as seen with iron deficiency), iron overload isn’t a cause of megaloblastic changes, and normal-sized RBCs describe normocytic anemia.

Megaloblastic anemia is a macrocytic form of anemia caused by impaired DNA synthesis in developing red blood cells, so the marrow makes oversized, abnormal cells called megaloblasts and the circulating RBCs are larger than normal. The common cause is deficiency of vitamin B12 or folate, which disrupts DNA replication and leads to asynchrony between the nucleus and cytoplasm during maturation. That’s why the defining feature is RBCs that are abnormal and large. By comparison, microcytic anemia has small RBCs (as seen with iron deficiency), iron overload isn’t a cause of megaloblastic changes, and normal-sized RBCs describe normocytic anemia.

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