VCM, which stands for Mean Corpuscular Volume, is an index on the blood count that indicates the average size of red blood cells. The normal value of VCM is between 80 and 100 fl and may vary according to the laboratory.
Knowing the amount of VCM is particularly important to aid in the diagnosis of anemia and to follow up the patient after starting treatment. However, VCM analysis should be done together with the whole blood count analysis, especially HCM, RDW and hemoglobin. Entees moreenteente moreenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteenteentees
Possible changes to VCM
The mean corpuscular volume may be increased or decreased, each of these situations being characteristic of different health problems:
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High VCM indicates that red blood cells are large, and an increased RDW value is usually verified, a condition known as anisocytosis. Learn what the RDW means in the blood test.
The increased value may be indicative of megaloblastic anemia and pernicious anemia, for example. But it may also be altered in alcohol dependence, hemorrhage, myelodysplastic syndromes and in hypothyroidism.
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The low VCM indicates that the red blood cells are small, being called microcytes. Microcytic red blood cells can be found in several situations, such as in minor thalassemia, congenital spherocytosis, uremia, chronic infections and especially in iron deficiency anemias, which are also known as hypochromic microcytic anemias because they also have low HCM. Ente more moreeseses morees moreenteente moreenteenteenteente moreente moreenteentees moreente moreentees more more more more more use
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For the laboratory diagnosis of anemia, the doctor mainly checks the hemoglobin values, in addition to other indexes, such as MCV and HCM. If hemoglobin is low, the type of anemia can be identified from the following results:
- VCM and HCM low : Means microcytic anemia, such as iron deficiency anemia;
- Normal VCM and HCM : Means normocytic anemia, which may be indicative of thalassemia;
- High VCM : Means macrocytic anemia, such as megaloblastic anemia, for example.
From the result of the hemogram, the doctor can request other tests that can confirm the diagnosis of the anemia. See which tests confirm the anemia.
