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Anaemia is a condition characterised by a reduction in healthy red blood cells or low haemoglobin in the blood. Red blood cells carry oxygen to various body tissues and organs. So anaemia will lead to reduced oxygen flow to the body's organs.
Megaloblastic anaemia is a form of macrocytic anaemia characterised by the presence of megaloblasts (large red blood cell precursors) in the bone marrow. Megaloblastic anaemia results from the inhibition of DNA synthesis and, to a lesser extent, RNA and protein synthesis during red blood cell production in the bone marrow. There will be immature nuclear maturation relative to cytoplasmic maturity.
Megaloblastic anaemia develops slowly in most cases. Affected individuals may be asymptomatic for many years and symptoms can vary greatly among different individuals. According to the top haematologist in Mysore, symptoms common to anaemia include fatigue, paleness of the skin (pallor), dizziness, shortness of breath (primarily with exertion), difficulty in breathing, lightheadedness, and palpitations. Some individuals may develop a reddened sore tongue. Megaloblastic anaemia due to cobalamin deficiency may be associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms like tingling or numbness in hands or feet, depression, insomnia, listlessness, ataxia, mental confusion, panic attacks, or memory loss.
Megaloblastic anaemia has several different causes. Cobalamin (vitamin B12) deficiency or folate (vitamin B9) deficiency are the most common ones. Meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products contain vitamin B12. Folate (also known as folic acid) is found in green leafy vegetables, certain grains and nuts, and citrus fruits. These vitamin deficiencies may result from inadequate intake in the diet, poor absorption in the intestine, or improper utilisation by the body. Folate deficiency can also be due to conditions with increased requirements of folate. Certain medications can affect cobalamin and folic acid metabolism and lead to their deficiency states. Rare causes of macrocytic anaemia include certain enzyme deficiencies and marrow failure disorders. Individuals following a strictly vegan or Mediterranean diet are at high risk for vitamin B12 deficiency.
The prevalence of Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency is higher in older adults ranging from 5 to 14 % and is less common in young adults. Males and females are affected in equal numbers. There is no racial or ethnic predisposition for this condition.
A diagnosis of megaloblastic anaemia will be made after a detailed patient history, clinical examination, identifying characteristic clinical findings, and blood tests. The treatment of megaloblastic anaemia at the best hematology hospital in Mysore depends upon the underlying cause of the disorder.
The prognosis is favourable if the aetiology of megaloblastic has been identified and appropriate treatment has been instituted. Gastric malignancy in patients with pernicious anaemia as the cause of megaloblastic anaemia can be a rare and concerning complication in this condition. Folate deficiency can lead to neural tube defects in the fetus.
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