Low Red Blood Cell Count

About the Symptom

Anemia is a condition characterized by a deficiency of healthy red blood cells. This deficiency can result from a lower red blood cell count or a reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the red blood cells. It is typically diagnosed through blood tests.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Low red blood cell count

Possible Causes

Generally, Low red blood cell count can be related to:

• MELAS Syndrome

  MELAS is a rare genetic disorder that starts in childhood and mainly affects the nervous system and muscles. The disorder is transmitted through the affected person's mother. Typical MELAS symptoms include weak muscles, sudden ("stroke-like") neurological symptoms such as paralysis of the right or left side of the body, blindness, or numbness, in addition to seizures and migraine-like headaches. People who have MELAS are also typically short in size, and have difficulty hearing.

• Multiple Myeloma (MM)

  This is a cancer of a type of white blood cell in the blood, called a plasma cell. Cancerous cells multiply and "crowd out" other healthy, normal cells. Risk factors include positive family history, older age, and male sex. Symptoms include fatigue, bone pain, weight loss, and inability to fight infections.

• Anemia

  Anemia is a disorder where the body's tissues don't receive enough oxygen due to a lack of healthy red blood cells. There are several types of anemia with various causes, the most common being iron-deficiency anemia, which results from insufficient iron. Iron is needed to produce hemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells that helps carry oxygen.

• Castleman's Disease / TAFLO Syndrome
• Vitamin B12 Deficiency
• Behcet's Disease
• Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria
• Bladder Cancer / Ureteric Cancer / Renal Pelvis Cancer
• Adenomyosis

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Low red blood cell count may be related to these serious diseases:

• Viral Associated Hemophagocytic Syndrome

  Viral-associated hemophagocytic syndrome is a life-threatening condition where a specific part of the immune system attacks normal cells. Viral infections, among other triggers, can cause this condition. The immune system damages organs through inflammation.

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Do you have a low red blood cell count on your blood test?
• When did you first notice your low red blood cell count on a blood test?

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