Physiological macrocytosis of pregnancy
Mukhopadhyay, A.; Bhatla, N.; Kriplani, A.; Saxena, R.
Tropical Doctor 37(1): 42-43
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0049-4755 PMID: 17326890 DOI: 10.1258/004947507779952104Document Number: 554005
In a prospective study of 40 women, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) values in second and third trimesters were compared between women who were iron deficient and those who were iron replete. There was no difference in the two groups. Hence reduced MCV seen in iron deficiency anaemia cannot be relied upon as an effective marker in pregnancy due to physiological macrocytosis.