ANISOCHROMIA
Uneven coloration of erythrocytes can be found in:
- combined iron and folic acid deficiency,
- patients with sideropenia, especially at the beginning of the treatment (blood smear), and
- during blood transfusion.
HYPOCHROMIA
Weaker erythrocytes coloration. The reason is usually a decreased amount of hemoglobin in erythrocytes due to the disturbance of heme synthesis or iron metabolism.
Degrees:
- light hypochromia (+);
- hypochromia (++);
- marked hypochromia (+++).
HYPERCHROMIA
Erythrocytes are intensively colored. This may be the result of the disturbed cell thickness and decreased central depression, and not the increased mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Hyperchromia is most prominent in megalocytes.
POLYCHROMIA
Erythrocytes stain bluish. This is the result of the persistence of RNA and may be the sign of incomplete cell maturation.
Degrees:
- light polychromia (+);
- polychromia (++);
- marked polychromia (+++).
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