MCHC and MCH Blood Test

Low MCH levels typically result from anemia brought on by a deficiency of iron in the body.  Iron is required by your body to manufacture hemoglobin. Your iron levels may decrease as a result of pregnancy, blood loss, or weight loss surgery, which may result in anemia, specifically iron deficiency anemia leading to a significantly low level of MCH and hemoglobin.  Doctors may advise patients to increase their intake of iron and vitamin B6. Consuming foods rich in iron and foods high in vitamin C and fiber may also assist to raise MCH levels. Some of the conditions that can cause low MCH level include the following:
1. Blood loss
2. Pregnancy
3. Surgery
4. Weight loss 

1. Easily gets tired.
2. Weakness.
3. Easily gets dizzy.
4. The skin appears pale or yellowish.
5. Having difficulty catching your breath.
6. Headache.
7. Cold clammy skin.
8. Chest pain.
9. Cold feet.
10. Irregular beating of the heart.

MCH concentrations over 34 pg are typically regarded as excessively high.  The condition is called macrocytic anemia, a blood condition caused by the inability of the body to produce an adequate number of red blood cells. In macrocytic anemia, the red blood cells formed are larger than usual and each red blood cell has more hemoglobin. One of the reasons for high MCH level is low folic acid (vitamin B12) in the body. Other possible reasons include thyroid-related problems, infections, other forms of anemia, excessive use of medicines containing estrogen, side effects of chemotherapy, hereditary spherocytosis, and some types of leukemia.  Clinical manifestations include the following:
1. Pallor
2. Unexplained tiredness/fatigue
3. Palpitations
4. Heart complications 

Adults’ MCHC reference levels fall between 33.4 and 35.5 grams per deciliter (g/dL). Your MCHC level is considered low if it is below 33.4 grams per deciliter. It is commonly associated with iron deficiency and thalassemia. the latter is a genetic condition in which the body has a few hemoglobin and red blood cells. Hypochromic anemia is one of the main reasons for low MCHC level, which is frequently brought on by iron shortage. If you experience anemia symptoms, you may have normochromic anemia within the MCHC reference range. Aplastic anemia is a rare kind of anemia in which the body cannot create enough RBC. Other conditions associated with low MCHC levels are unexpected blood loss, having an artificial heart valve, kidney failure,

Hyperchromic anemia, which is higher above the MCHC reference range, may be brought on by spherocytosis. It is an extremely rare hereditary condition in which the body produces irregularly shaped red blood cells. Another possible reason is red blood cell agglutination, a condition where the red blood cells cluster together in an abnormal manner. The level of MCHC is high if the value if 35.5 grams per deciliter and above.

Your body is producing less hemoglobin than usual if your MCV and MCH levels are low. As a result, anemia develops because the body produces less than normal healthy red blood cells.  Although anemia typically does not result in major health issues, it can be dangerous if left untreated. Some of the conditions linked to low levels of MCH, MCHC, and MCV are the following: 
1. Genetic predisposition for Hb C
2. Chronic inflammatory disease
3. Problems in metabolizing copper
4. Sideroblastic anemia
5. Autoimmune-related disorders
6. Blood loss secondary to injury, heavy monthly period, and surgery
7. Inflammatory disease of the liver and kidneys
8. Lack of iron in your diet
9. Pregnancy or has recently given birth

A high MCHC and MCH result is most likely to happen when hemoglobin inside the red blood cells is heavily condensed. Hemoglobin can also leak outside of red blood cells in conditions where RBCs get severely damaged.  Some of the conditions linked with high MCH and MCHC levels are the following:
1. Liver-related diseases
2. Hyperactive thyroid gland
3. Too much intake of alcoholic beverages
4. Complications from infections
6. Too much intake of estrogen-containing drugs for a long period of time
7. Caused by some types of cancer
8. Deficiency in B vitamins like vitamin B12 and folate
9. Heavy menstrual bleeding
10. Those who underwent gastric-related procedures
11. Those suffering from microcytic anemia and celiac disease

The amount of hemoglobin in each red blood cell is measured by MCH. MCH readings typically range from 29 to 2 picograms (pg) per cell. On the other hand, MCHC pertains to the hemoglobin content per unit of volume. It links the amount of hemoglobin to the size of the cell.

Depending on the illness or disease that causes the abnormally high or low MCH levels, treatment varies for high and low levels. A medical professional must first ascertain the cause of your MCH levels, which could be low or excessive. For a thorough picture, they’ll probably consider the other outcomes of your complete blood count. The course of treatment usually includes diet modifications, supplements, and blood transfusion for severe cases. In some instances, a bone marrow might be necessary. 

Anemia, more specifically hypochromic microcytic anemia, can be indicated by low MCHC levels. It’s crucial to determine the underlying cause through more testing and assessment with a healthcare professional, even though this may raise concerns. Depending on the underlying cause, treatment options could include dietary adjustments or medical procedures. Bottomline, it is not always a cause for concern, but it is better to have yourself checked by your primary care physician. When it comes to your health, you should not be laxed. It should always be the top priority. As the line goes “better safe than sorry.”

Which one is a better parameter in identifying disease condition primarily depends on the type of condition or disease that the doctor is trying to rule out. For instance,  it was once believed that MCHC was a more accurate parameter than MCH for identifying hypochromasia. Plasma entrapment, which normally results in a slightly elevated hematocrit, has no effect on the MCHC, as it is now analyzed by a multichannel analyzer. Therefore, when there is hypochromasia, MCHC does not decrease.