Low erythrocytes is a condition in which the level of red blood cells in the body is reduced to below the normal range. In the early stages, this condition does not cause signs or symptoms, so it is only known after a blood test is done.
Erythrocytes or red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow. These cells contain a protein called hemoglobin and function to deliver oxygen from the lungs to all organs and tissues of the body.
You can find out the level of erythrocytes in the body by undergoing a complete blood test. Normal red blood cell levels in adult men are between 4.7-6.1 million/microliter (mcl), and in adult women it is 4.2-5.4 million/mcl. Meanwhile, in children, normal erythrocyte levels are 4.1-5.5 million/mcl.
What Makes Erythrocytes Low?
Low erythrocyte levels can be caused by many factors, one of which is bleeding, for example due to an accident or surgery. Decreased erythrocyte levels are also common in pregnant women, due to the increased amount of fluid in the body.
There are several other conditions that can cause a decrease in erythrocyte levels, namely:
Lack of nutrition
There are several nutrients that the body needs to produce red blood cells, including iron, folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. Lack of nutrient intake can occur in people with an unhealthy diet, have intestinal disorders so that nutrient absorption is inhibited, or undergo a vegetarian diet.
Suffering from certain diseases
Some diseases that can make erythrocyte levels in the body decrease are:
- Anemia.
- Rupture of red blood cells or hemolysis, as in thalassemia and sickle cell anemia.
- Severe infection.
- Thyroid disease.
- Bone marrow disorders.
- Blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma.
- Kidney damage.
- Lead poisoning.
Decreased erythrocyte levels can also occur in the elderly, people who have recently undergone major surgery, such as operations on the gastrointestinal tract, and people who are too frequent blood donors.
Drug side effects
Low erythrocyte levels can occur as a side effect of drugs. Some drugs that are at risk of reducing erythrocyte levels in the body are:
- Chemotherapy drugs, which are used in the treatment of cancer.
- quinidine,commonly used to treat heart rate disorders.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
- Cephalosporin, penicillin, and chloramphenicol antibiotics.
- Certain types of antiepileptic drugs, such as hydantoin.
Low levels of erythrocytes in the body do not always show symptoms. When symptoms appear, the complaints are similar to those of anemia, namely weakness, paleness, fatigue, palpitations, and shortness of breath.
If you experience these symptoms, immediately consult a doctor so that the cause can be identified and appropriate treatment given.
Handling Low Erythrocytes
Treatment of low erythrocytes will be tailored to the cause. Common treatments given by doctors to treat low erythrocytes include:
- Giving iron supplements, if the cause of low erythrocytes is iron deficiency. Doctors will also advise patients to eat more foods that are sources of iron, such as meat, fish, green vegetables, and beans.
- Giving folate and vitamin B12 supplements, if the cause of low erythrocytes is a deficiency of these two nutrients. Patients are also advised to eat beef and beef liver, eggs, avocado, spinach, nuts, and cereals fortified with folate and vitamin B12.
- Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and/or surgery, if low red blood cells are caused by cancer.
- Dialysis and administration of the hormone erythropoietin, if low erythrocyte levels are experienced by patients with end-stage renal failure.
- Blood transfusion, if the cause of low erythrocyte levels is bleeding.
If not treated properly, low erythrocyte levels can lead to serious complications, ranging from heart problems to death.
Therefore, if you feel complaints that are similar to symptoms of anemia and have risk factors that can cause low erythrocytes, it is advisable to immediately consult a doctor.