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Glite Dictionary
macrocytic

macrocytic

8.5
Red blood cells that are larger than normal
  • adjective
  • /ˌmækroʊˈsɪtɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : macrocítico
  • The doctor diagnosed her with a macrocytic anemia after examining her blood test results.

Examples

  • The lab report showed that the patient's red blood cells were macrocytic, indicating a potential issue with folate levels.

  • In patients with certain vitamin deficiencies, macrocytic red blood cells are often observed under a microscope.

  • The macrocytic effect of E became evident at 40d in normal nutritional status.

    Academic text (2007)

Synonyms

megaloblastic
vsmacrocytic
  • Specialized
1 9.6

A condition in which the body has very large immature red blood cells often seen in some anemias

is broader and applies to larger cells, not only immature ones
cytomegalic
vsmacrocytic
  • Specialized
9.9

Having cells that are much larger than normal

is milder, meaning larger than normal rather than greatly enlarged

Compounds

macrocytic anemia
  • Specialized
5.8

A blood condition with fewer red blood cells that are larger than normal

How Large

megaloblastic
  • Specialized
1 9.6
macrocytic
  • Specialized
8.5
normocytic
  • Specialized
6.9
microcytic
  • Specialized
1 8.6

Surface Forms

macrocytic positive

Morphology

macrocytic = macrocyte (semi-transparent) = macro + cyt + ic

The adjective is formed regularly from the technical noun 'macrocyte', but the medical combining forms make the meaning only partly accessible to most learners.

Etymology

The word macrocytic comes from the parts macro- meaning 'large' and -cytic from cyte meaning 'cell'. So macrocytic describes cells, often red blood cells, that are 'larger than normal'.