What does mean corpuscular volume (MCV) indicate about red blood cells (RBCs)?

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is a crucial hematological parameter that provides insight into the average size of red blood cells (RBCs). Specifically, MCV is expressed in femtoliters (fL) and is calculated using the total volume of packed red blood cells divided by the number of red blood cells in a given volume of blood. An increased MCV indicates larger-than-normal RBCs, which may be seen in conditions such as macrocytic anemia, while a decreased MCV suggests smaller-than-normal RBCs, potentially indicating microcytic anemia.

Understanding MCV helps clinicians evaluate and categorize various types of anemia. For instance, macrocytic anemia can be caused by vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, while microcytic anemia is often associated with iron deficiency. Therefore, MCV serves as an important diagnostic tool in distinguishing between different hematological conditions based on the size of the red blood cells.