Hypochromasia

« Back to Glossary Index

Hypochromasia means paler in colour than normal red blood cells due to a lower than normal hemoglobin content . The red cell is described as having central pallor. This is most often caused by acute iron deficiency in domestic animals, sometimes due to external blood loss. On a blood test result, you will usually see the MCHC (mean or average corpuscular haemoglobin content) is below the normal range, although hypochromasia can be seen on a blood smear before the MCHC falls below normal. MCV (mean or average corpuscular volume) may also be raised at the beginning of the illness, but may fall under normal as the disease progresses. Internal blood loss may not result in hypochromasia because the iron content of the cells can be recycled within the body & are therefore not lost externally.

In the advanced stages of iron deficiency, hypochromasia is seen with abnormal red blood cell shapes including eccentrocytes, schistocytes & keratocytes.

Causes other than iron deficiency (the most common cause of hypochromasia in dogs & cats) include thalassemia, lead poisoning or anything  that affects hemoglobin production.

« Back to Glossary Index