Polychromasia

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
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Polychromasia
Micrograph showing polychromasia
Synonyms	Polychromatophilia
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Anemia, fatigue, pallor
Complications	Hypoxia, heart failure
Onset	Variable, depending on underlying cause
Duration	Variable
Types	N/A
Causes	Hemolytic anemia, blood loss, bone marrow disorders
Risks	Chronic disease, nutritional deficiencies
Diagnosis	Blood smear, complete blood count
Differential diagnosis	Reticulocytosis, sideroblastic anemia
Prevention	Depends on underlying cause
Treatment	Address underlying cause, blood transfusion if necessary
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Depends on underlying cause
Frequency	Common in certain conditions
Deaths	N/A

Polychromasia is a medical condition characterized by the presence of polychromatic red blood cells in the blood smear. These cells are typically larger and exhibit a bluish tint when stained with Wright's stain or Giemsa stain, indicating that they are reticulocytes, or immature red blood cells.

Causes

Polychromasia can be caused by a variety of conditions that lead to increased production of red blood cells by the bone marrow. These conditions include:

• Hemolytic anemia
• Acute blood loss
• Recovery from anemia
• Bone marrow disorders

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of polychromasia is typically made through a peripheral blood smear examination. The presence of polychromatic cells is a sign that the bone marrow is responding to an increased demand for red blood cells. Additional tests may include:

• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Reticulocyte count
• Bone marrow biopsy

Clinical Significance

Polychromasia is an important diagnostic indicator in various hematological conditions. It suggests active erythropoiesis and can be a response to:

• Hemorrhage
• Hemolysis
• Therapeutic interventions such as iron therapy or erythropoietin administration

Treatment

Treatment of polychromasia involves addressing the underlying cause. For instance:

• In cases of iron deficiency anemia, iron supplements may be prescribed.
• For hemolytic anemia, treatment may include corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive agents.
• In cases of acute blood loss, blood transfusion may be necessary.

See Also

• Anemia
• Reticulocyte
• Bone marrow
• Peripheral blood smear

External Links

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