what is CBC and blood content

1. May Noman

2. What is CBC?
It is the total blood count that measures the
different types of cells in our blood:
o Red blood cells (RBCs).
o White blood cells (WBCs).
o Platelets.

3. RBCs (erythrocytes)
1. Hemoglobin (Hb).
2. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
3. Haematocrit (HCT).

4. Hemoglobin (Hb)
An iron containing protein which carries the
oxygen in the body and gives the blood it’s
red color.
The normal ranges vary depending on the
gender:
13.8 – 17.2 (gdL) in males.
12.1 – 15.1 (gdL) in females.
 High Hb is called polycythemia.
 Low Hb is called anemia.

5. Polycythemia
 Causes:
1. Polycythemia Vera: it is a type of blood cancer. It
causes bone marrow to produce extra red blood
cells, it is a rare but a fatal if not treated.
2. COPD.

6.  Complications:
1. Itching.
2. Blood clots.
 Management:
1. Aspirin.
2. Venesection.
3. Hydroxycarbamide.

7. Anemia
 Causes of anemia depends on the MCV:
Anemia
Macrocytic
(MCV >100)
- B12 folate
deficiency.
- Hemolysis.
- Alcohol.
- Hypothyroidism.
Normocytic
MCV (80-100)
- myeloma.
- Acute blood loss.
- inflammation.
Microcytic
(MCV <80)
- Iron deficiency.
- thalassemia.
- Inflammation.

8.  Symptoms of anemia:
• Shortness of breath.
• Fatigability.
• Palpitations.
• Pallor.
 Management:
• Treating the underlying cause.
• Blood transfusion may be needed (if HB<70 gdL).

9. Hematocrit (HCT)
It measures the percentage of red blood cells in
the blood.

10. WBCs (leukocytes)
1. Lymphocytes.
2. Neutrophils.
3. Basophils
4. Eosinophils.

11. High WBCs is called leukocytosis and it’s
associated with:
1. Infection.
2. Inflammation.
3. Post-surgery.
4. Pregnancy.

12. Low WBCs is called leukopenia and it’s associated with:
1. Hematinic deficiency (B12/ folate or iron).
2. Bone marrow failure.
3. Sepsis.
4. Some medications (immunosuppressant,
antipsychotic or antidepressant).

13.  Increased lymphocytes  Viral infection.
 Increased neutrophils  Bacterial infection.
 Increased basophils  Atopy.
 Increased eosinophils  Atopy and parasitic infection.

14. Platelets (thrombocytes)
Small, colorless cell fragments in our blood
that form clots and stop or prevent bleeding.

15. High platelet count is called thrombocytosis:
1. Reactive  in response to an infection or
an inflammation.
2. Essential thrombocythemia.
3. Malignancy.

16. Low platelet count is called thrombocytopenia:
1. Bone marrow failure.
2. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).
3. Immune thrombocytopenia.
Platelet transfusion might be needed, but it is not a
good long term solution for cases like immune
thrombocytopenia because the immune system will
continue to destroy the platelets.

18. Thank You.