In order to deal properly with abnormal red blood cell count we need to understand and — if possible — remove the underlying causes and risk factors. We need to ask: "What else is going on inside the body that might allow abnormal red blood cell count to develop?"
Accurate diagnosis of the factors behind abnormal red blood cell count consists of three steps:
Cause | Probability | Status |
---|---|---|
Leukemia | 98% | Confirm |
Polycythemia Vera | 55% | Possible |
Bone Marrow Suppression | 21% | Unlikely |
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma | 4% | Ruled out |
Anemia | 3% | Ruled out |
Chronic Renal Insufficiency | 3% | Ruled out |
Red Blood Cell count (RBC). Unit: x10^6/uL or x10^12/L. NOTE: If your results show large numbers, divide by 1000 (i.e. 3900 becomes 3.9).
Possible responses:
→ Don't know→ Under 3.2 (very low) → 3.2 to 4.2 (low) → 4.3 to 5.4 (normal) → Over 5.4 (high) |
Anemia also suggests the following possibilities:
Anemia is almost always present in cases of chronic renal failure, and can occur through any of the basic mechanisms (blood loss, excessive destruction of red blood cells, or low production of red blood cells.) However, the typical anemia associated with CRF results from decreased production of red blood cells by the bone marrow: failing kidneys no longer produce sufficient erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates the production of oxygen-carrying red blood cells (RBCs). In addition to decreased levels of RBCs, patients often begin to accumulate toxic metabolites, which shorten the lifespan of existing RBCs.
The red blood cell deficiency caused by leukemia leads to anemia and the symptoms of anemia, including severe fatigue, pallor, and breathing difficulty.