The erythrogram is the part of the blood count used to count and evaluate erythrocytes, also known red blood cells. In addition to counting these cells, the erythrogram also allows them to check the shape and size of the cells and is therefore used to detect various forms of anemia.
Erythrocytes are responsible for the transport of oxygen. Within these cells there is a protein called hemoglobin, which binds to oxygen, allowing red blood cells to carry gas from the lungs to the body's cells. It is also the hemoglobin that gives the blood red color.
For men, reference values of the erythrocytes range from 4,500,000 to 6,000,000 mm3, while for women the values should be between 4,000,000 to 5,500,000 mm3. For newborns, the expected number of red blood cells ranges from 5,500,000 to 7,000,000 mm3.
The increase in the number of erythrocytes, called polygllobulia, is not usually clinically relevant. Reducing the level of red blood cells, known as hypoglobulia, is a sign of anemia.
In these cases, the disease can also be diagnosed by analyzing the amount of hemoglobin. Little hemoglobin in the blood indicates the presence of anemia.
Hemoglobin reference values for men range from 13.5 to 18g / dL, while for women the values range from 12 to 16g / dL.
In addition to evaluating erythrocytes and hemoglobin, the erythrogram also hematocrit, which is the volume of erythrocytes found in centrifuged blood. Through the hematocrit, it is possible to determine the ratio of red blood cells to plasma (the liquid part of the blood).
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The hematocrit result depends on the amount, shape and size of red blood cells, as well as the amount of hemoglobin. The reference values for women are between 38% and 47% and for men they vary between 44% and 54%.
The erythrogram also provides hematimetric indices (VCM, CHCM) very important for the diagnosis and treatment of anemia.
The VCM (mean corpuscular volume) evaluates the size of the erythrocyte. If red blood cells are larger than normal, anemia is called macrocytic; if they are smaller, microcytic. The reference values in adults vary between 80 and 96 fl.
On the other hand, CHCM (concentration of corpuscular hemoglobin
mean) is used to measure the amount of hemoglobin present in erythrocytes in 100 ml of blood. The reference values for men and women should be between 26 and 34 pg.
The hematologist is the specialist responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of anemia.
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