Mentzer index
Mentzer Index
The Mentzer Index (pronounced: men-tzer index) is a medical calculation used primarily in the field of hematology to differentiate between Iron Deficiency Anemia and Thalassemia.
Etymology
The Mentzer Index is named after Dr. William C. Mentzer, an American pediatric hematologist who first proposed this calculation in 1973.
Calculation
The Mentzer Index is calculated by dividing the patient's Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) by the total number of Red Blood Cells (RBC). The resulting ratio is then used to help diagnose the type of anemia.
If the Mentzer Index is less than 13, it suggests that the patient may have Thalassemia. If the Mentzer Index is greater than 13, it suggests that the patient may have Iron Deficiency Anemia.
Related Terms
- Anemia: A condition in which there is a deficiency of red cells or of haemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness.
- Iron Deficiency Anemia: A type of anemia caused by a lack of iron, which is needed to produce hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
- Thalassemia: A blood disorder passed down through families (inherited) in which the body makes an abnormal form or inadequate amount of hemoglobin.
- Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV): A measure of the average volume of a red blood corpuscle (or red blood cell).
- Red Blood Cells (RBC): The blood cells that carry oxygen. Red cells contain hemoglobin and it is the hemoglobin which permits them to transport oxygen.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Mentzer index
- Wikipedia's article - Mentzer index
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