Tag: Hypersegmented neutrophils

The hallmark finding on a peripheral blood smear in megaloblastic anemia is the presence of abnormally large, immature red blood cells and a specific change in white blood cells. This article explains what neutrophils are in megaloblastic anemia, focusing on the characteristic hypersegmentation that serves as a crucial diagnostic clue.

Deficiencies in vitamin B12, or cobalamin, are a leading cause of megaloblastic anemia, a condition characterized by impaired DNA synthesis. This defect profoundly affects rapidly dividing cells, most notably those in the bone marrow, leading to distinctive morphological changes visible on a peripheral blood smear. Identifying these characteristic peripheral smear findings is a crucial step in the diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency and distinguishing it from other types of anemia.

According to the National Institutes of Health, up to 20% of people over 60 have vitamin B12 deficiency. This critical vitamin plays a vital role in blood cell formation, and when levels are low, the effects on your blood can be significant, leading to a condition known as megaloblastic anemia.

Approximately 1-2% of anemia cases in the general population are linked to vitamin B12 deficiency, a condition that is more commonly associated with low blood cell counts, not high ones. While a vitamin B12 deficiency does not typically cause high neutrophils, it does cause a key morphological change to these cells.