What is megaloblastic anemia?

Also known as: Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, folate-deficiency anemia, folic acid deficiency anemia, pernicious anemia.

Megaloblastic anemia is a type of anemia where the bone marrow produces fewer and abnormally large, oval shaped (instead of round/disk-like) red blood cells, with underdeveloped inside contents (hemoglobin). They tend not to survive as long as normal red blood cells.

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Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM