Hypokrominen

Hypokrominen is a term used in hematology to describe red blood cells that contain less hemoglobin than normal. Hemoglobin is the protein responsible for carrying oxygen within red blood cells. When red blood cells are hypochromic, they appear paler than usual when viewed under a microscope because of the reduced amount of hemoglobin. This paleness is often quantified by measuring the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), which is the average concentration of hemoglobin within a single red blood cell. A low MCHC value indicates hypochromia.

Hypochromia is a common finding in various types of anemia, most notably iron deficiency anemia. Iron is a crucial component in the synthesis of hemoglobin, and when the body's iron stores are depleted, hemoglobin production is impaired, leading to hypochromic red blood cells. Other conditions that can cause hypochromia include thalassemia, a group of inherited blood disorders that affect hemoglobin production, and sideroblastic anemia, where iron cannot be incorporated into hemoglobin effectively. The presence of hypochromic red blood cells is an important diagnostic clue that guides further investigations to determine the underlying cause of the anemia. Treatment typically focuses on addressing the root cause, such as iron supplementation for iron deficiency anemia.