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Megaloblastic anemia - Overview

Alternative Names

Anemia - megaloblastic

Definition of Megaloblastic anemia:

Megaloblastic anemia is a blood disorder in which there is anemia with larger-than-normal red blood cells.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Megaloblastic anemia is usually caused by a deficiency of folic acid or vitamin B12. Other causes are:

Alcohol abuse
Certain inherited disorders
Drugs that affect DNA, such as chemotherapy drugs
Leukemia
Myelodysplastic syndrome
Myelofibrosis

Risk factors relate to the causes.

See also: Pernicious anemia

Megaloblastic anemia - view of red blood cells

Hypersegmented PMN (Close-up)

Blood cells

Reviewed last on: 11/23/2008
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Antony AC. Megoblastic anemias. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 170.

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