Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) is one type of examination in the blood, where the mass will be assessed from the hemoglobin of the red blood cell units that exist in the body.
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin is the approximate amount or weight of the average hemoglobin at any red blood cells in the body. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells (erythrocytes) which serves to deliver oxygen to the cells and tissues throughout the body.
Although very similar, MCH is different from the MCHC. MCH shows the average weight of hemoglobin that is on every red blood cells, while the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) shows the average weight of hemoglobin based on the volume of red blood cells. Both are a reflection of the health of hemoglobin in the blood.
The Function Of The Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin.
The normal amount of MCH in the body is around 27 to 31 picograms. This measurement is usually not routinely performed by a doctor if there is not a clear inidication in patients examined. Patients have abnormalities in MCH usually also have characteristics in abnormalities in the blood.
Symptoms that appear can be in the form of weak, tired, lethargic, and easily dizzy. In addition, patients may experience mood swings, become irritable or depressed, it’s hard to concentrate, the skin becomes pale, muscles become weaker, the color of the stools into a darker, or even se**xual interest be down than usual.
The Normal Value Of The MCH.
MCH unit is picogram (pg). Picogram is equivalent to 10-12 grams. MCH value is not calculated directly, but uses the formulas and refers to the amount of Hb and the number of red blood cells or erythrocytes.
The way to calculate MCH by multiplying the Hb levels 10 times, and then divide it by the number of erythrocytes. Normal levels of MCH can be different on each person, is affected by various factors.
Here is the normal value of the MCH that are differentiated by age:
- Newborn: 33-41 pg.
- Children ages 1-5 years: 23-31 pg.
- Children ages 6-10 years: 22-34 pg.
- Adults: 26-34 pg.
Each laboratory may have a different range of values of the MCH, but surely it’s worth will not be much different. If the value of the MCH far below or above the average, then there is a possibility of it results from certain health conditions.
Read also: Your Lab Test Results.
Causes of low MCH levels.
Various types of anemia known to show low MCH levels result. For example, microcytic anemia that occurs when red blood cells are too small, so it does not contain a number of hemoglobin as it should be. Its main cause is the lack of nutrients from food, especially of iron.
In addition, some medical conditions can also cause anemia, even if the person is already consuming this balanced and healthy food. Conditions that cause low MCH include:
- Iron Deficiency Anemia.
- Celiac disease.
- Gastric surgery.
- Excessive menstruation.
- Vitamin B deficiency.
The Description of The Type of Anemia Using The Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) in Chronic Renal Failure in Ulin Hospital Banjarmasin.
Chronic renal failure (CRF) is the main issue of health care in the community that is the progression of of a long and progressive disease, and has a diverse etiology. Anemia is one of the complications that occur at CRF.
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) is the index of erythrocytes can see the quantity of colors, namely normochromic and hypochromic. The purpose of the research to know the description of the type of anemia using MCH in chronic renal failure in Ulin Hospital Banjarmasin..
This research is a descriptive observational research with the cross sectional approach, the subject is the patient with CRF with creatinin > 6 mg/dL who have yet to undergo hemodialysis in the period July-September 2015, the sample chosen using Simple Random Sampling technique with a total sample of 100. Based on the levels of hemoglobin, most on levels of 7-9 g/dl is 53 people (53%). The results show that this type of anemia in CRF was 70 people (70%) in normochromic anemia and 30 people (30%) in hypochromic anemia. The conclusion of this study is that the type of anemia using MCH in CRF is mostly found in normochromic anemia. (Source: https://ppjp.ulm.ac.id/journal/index.php/jbk/article/view/1866).
Read also: Symptoms of kidney problems you should know.
