Macrocytosis is frequent in the presence of deficiency or defective use of vitamin B12 or folate; this manifestation can be associated with malnutrition, alcoholism, pregnancy (due to increased needs), tropical sprue and gastrointestinal diseases, such as celiac disease and Crohn’s disease.
Macrocytosis can also be observed in cases of hypothyroidism, chronic obstructive airway diseases, liver disease, myeloproliferative diseases (polycythemia vera, myelofibrosis and thrombocythemia), myelodysplastic syndrome and chronic exposure to benzene.
Macrocytosis can also be induced by bone marrow dysplasia secondary to chronic alcohol abuse.
Other causes include drugs (generally anti-tumor drugs and immunosuppressants) and, rarely, metabolic disorders (e.g. hereditary orotic aciduria).
Macrocytosis is a common or probable symptom of these diseases
By clicking on the pathology you are interested in, you can read further information on its origins and the symptoms that characterize it. Macrocytosis can also be a typical symptom of other diseases, not included in our database and therefore not listed.
This guide is in no way intended to replace the opinion of doctors or other healthcare professionals responsible for the correct interpretation of symptoms, to whom we refer to obtain a more precise indication of the origins of any symptom.
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