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Question
Hello doctor,
I went to a reproductive health check-up and did tests in which all biochemical and endocrine results were normal. As for hematology tests, MCV and MCH are low. The doctor advised both her husband to have a blood test to see if her husband's MCV and MCH are low for fear that if both of them are low, they will have a child with congenital hemolytic disease. So can you tell me how the low MCV and MCH indexes improve? What should I do if my husband has the same test as me? Thank you doctor.
Anonymous client
Answer
Answered by Resident Doctor, Master Nguyen Thi Tam - Clinician - Reproductive Support Center - Vinmec Times City International Hospital.
Hello,
To the question "How does low MCV and MCH improve?", the doctor would like to answer as follows:
MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume) reflects the average volume of red blood cells in the blood. . Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) is a measure of the average amount of hemoglobin present in a red blood cell in the body. Low MCV and MCH indicate microcytic anemia, which can be caused by iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia or other hemoglobinopathies. It is necessary to determine the specific cause so that appropriate interventions can be taken.
In Vietnam, Thalassemia is a common inherited disease, the rate of carrying the thalassemia gene (congenital hemolytic disease) in Kinh people is about 2-4%, ethnic minorities live in mountainous areas, this rate is very high: About 22% for the Muong, and over 40% for the Ede, Tay, Thai... Mothers with microcytic anemia may have latent thalassemia anemia (also called recessive gene carrier). If the father also has the same condition, the chance of the fetus having Thalassemia (hemolytic anemia) is 25% and will greatly affect the development of the child.
If both husband and wife have low MCV, MCH, then you and your husband should consult a hematologist to do tests to determine exactly what is the cause of microcytic anemia. If there is a genetic cause, then consult a geneticist and consider preimplantation genetic screening to select healthy embryos.
If you still have questions about low MCV and MCH, you can go to a hospital under Vinmec Health System for further examination and advice. Thank you for trusting and sending questions to Vinmec. Wishing you lots of health.
Best regards!
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