A low mean red blood cell volume means that it is small, less than 80 fl. It is usually associated with certain diseases such as iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia, and other microcytic hypochromic anemias.
Iron deficiency anemia develops in adults usually due to chronic blood loss, in young and middle-aged women it is usually associated with excessive menstruation, while in young and middle-aged men it is usually associated with the formation of peptic ulcers or hemorrhoids, and in the elderly it is usually associated with the formation of tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, which leads to a decrease in serum iron and ferritin, and to a low mean volume of red blood cells.
Thalassemia is associated with an inherited genetic mutation and is divided into two types, alpha and beta, leading to abnormalities in the amount and structure of hemoglobin as well as a low mean red blood cell volume.
When low mean red blood cell volume is present, multiple causes of microcytic hypochromic anemia are considered. Diagnosis should also be made in conjunction with clinical manifestations, other blood biochemical indicators such as serum iron and ferritin, and treatment should be carried out after the diagnosis is clear.