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Question answered:10/08/07 Warning! this question is over two years old.
It is difficult for us to answer this question as our usual sources for answering queries namely the TRIP, Cochrane and Medline databases tend to take a disease-specific rather than a clinical pathological approach. Thus, the NLH Q & A Service would recommend discussing this issue with an haematologist who will be able to advise on the likely cause and offer a possible diagnosis given these parameters.
We did however locate two sources discussing low haematocrit (or packed cell volume) and low red blood cell count.
The MedlinePlus Encyclopaedia provides the following information:
“Low numbers of RBCs may indicate:
• Blood loss
o Anemia (various types)
o Hemorrhage
• Bone marrow failure (for example, from radiation, toxin, fibrosis, tumor)
• Erythropoietin deficiency (secondary to renal disease)
• Hemolysis (RBC destruction)
• Leukemia
• Multiple myeloma
• Malnutrition (nutritional deficiencies of iron, folate, vitamin B12, or vitamin B6) “
“Low hematocrit may indicate:
• Anemia (various types)
• Blood loss (hemorrhage)
• Bone marrow failure (for example, due to radiation, toxin, fibrosis, tumor)
• Hemolysis (RBC destruction) related to transfusion reaction
• Leukemia
• Malnutrition or specific nutritional deficiency
• Multiple myeloma
• Rheumatoid arthritis” [1]
LabTests Online UK states:
“A low RBC count may indicate anaemia, bleeding, kidney disease, bone marrow failure (for instance, from radiation or a tumour), malnutrition, or other causes. A low count may also indicate nutritional deficiencies of iron, folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6.” [2]
“A decreased PCV indicates anaemia, such as that caused by iron deficiency. Further testing may be necessary to determine the exact cause of the anaemia. Other conditions that can result in a low PCV include vitamin or mineral deficiencies, recent bleeding, cirrhosis of the liver, and malignancies.” [3]
References:
1. MedlinePlus. CBC. Last updated: 2006. (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003642.htm)
2. Lab Tests Online UK. Red Blood Cell Count. Last modified 28 May 2004. (http://www.labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/rbc/test.html)
3. Lab Tests Online UK. PCV. Last modified 19 May 2004. (http://www.labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/hematocrit/test.html).
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