How To Treat And Diagnose Diamond-Blackfan Anemia

Hemoglobin And Hematocrit Test

A hematocrit test measures the proportion of blood made up of red blood cells. As mentioned previously, blood consists of red and white blood cells and platelets, which are suspended in a fluid known as plasma. Together, these components are known as whole blood. The hematocrit test is a relatively quick and straightforward way to evaluate red blood cells and detect conditions such as anemia. The hematocrit test is a ratio of the volume of red blood cells to all the components' volume. That value is expressed as a percentage or fraction, so, for instance, a hematocrit value of fifty percent means that there are fifty milliliters of red blood cells in one hundred milliliters of whole blood. The volume of blood is typically made up of roughly thirty-seven to forty-nine percent of red blood cells. If the red blood count and the hemoglobin levels are low, the patient has anemia.

Diagnosing Diamond-Blackfan anemia on time is critical. Continue reading for more information.

Bone Marrow Analysis

Another way of diagnosing Diamond-Blackfan anemia is through bone marrow analysis, often by bone marrow aspiration. In this type of procedure, a professional will take a small sample of the fluid located in the bone's soft spongy tissue, also known as bone marrow. The cells responsible for producing white and red blood cells and platelets are contained. These cells are responsible for carrying those three types of cells inside more prominent bones, such as the hips, the breastbone, and the ribs. Most professionals will ask patients to get a bone marrow aspiration if they suspect that they might be suffering from any infections, blood cell conditions, a specific type of blood or bone marrow cancer (leukemia or lymphoma), or anemia. The procedure is very safe, but it might have some risks such as bleeding, discomfort, or an allergic reaction to anesthesia.

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