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What Does Elevated MCV Level Indicate?
Question: My MCV is elevated. Last year my doctor had me give up all alcohol - I was drinking maybe 4-5 drinks a week. Having no alcohol for 3 months lowered my MCV 3 points to 100 from 103. I have limited myself to 2 drinks a week for the last 9 months and it is still elevated. Now my doctor wants me to lower my alcohol intake even further. Why would that be when everything else is normal, and why does it matter anyhow? I do not yet have this years number.
Brief Answer:
Get Vitamin B12 levels.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome To HCM. I am Dr Anshul Varshney. I understand your concern.
See raised MCV of this level signifies that you have either Vitamin B12 or Folate deficiency which frequently occurs in people consuming excessive alcohol.
You numbers would persist like this for long if you don't get the deficiency treated.
In my opinion you should get Vitamin B12 levels and Folate levels done and take the treatment for deficiency found.
As far as alcohol consumption is concerned in my opining you should not go beyond 90 ml a week.
I hope it helps.
If you have any further query, please ask me.
Stay Healthy.
Get Vitamin B12 levels.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome To HCM. I am Dr Anshul Varshney. I understand your concern.
See raised MCV of this level signifies that you have either Vitamin B12 or Folate deficiency which frequently occurs in people consuming excessive alcohol.
You numbers would persist like this for long if you don't get the deficiency treated.
In my opinion you should get Vitamin B12 levels and Folate levels done and take the treatment for deficiency found.
As far as alcohol consumption is concerned in my opining you should not go beyond 90 ml a week.
I hope it helps.
If you have any further query, please ask me.
Stay Healthy.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you, Dr Varshney. My plan is to not drink at all until the level is back to normal. I do not yet have this year's numbers but last year the b12 and folate numbers were all normal as were all the other tests he ran concerning the mcv, except the mch level was off also. I take b-12 daily in addition to my XXXXXXX multi vitamin. My doctor says this means my bone marrow is having a difficult time making red blood cells. Could this be the result of taking Mercaptopurine? I had a round of that about 10 years ago (for what the GI doc thought was Crohn's at the time- it was not Crohn''s) and it shut down my blood production causing the primary dr to insist on an immediate end to its use. Could it have caused some level of permanent damage? to my liver? to my bone marrow?
Brief Answer:
Bone marrow examination
Detailed Answer:
Yes, Mercaptopurine can also cause bone marrow dysfunction leading to these issues.
However, isolated low MCV requires a re-evaluation for Vitamin B12 and Folic acid levels.
In fact, i would advice you to go for Bone marrow examination that would prove the what we all are just guessing.
If there is any bone marrow issue, it would show up in reports.
This is unlikely to be due to liver damage, but if you have any history of liver dysfunction we need to work upon it too.
Ideally, you should avoid alcohol.
I hope it helps you.
If you have any further query, please ask me.
Bone marrow examination
Detailed Answer:
Yes, Mercaptopurine can also cause bone marrow dysfunction leading to these issues.
However, isolated low MCV requires a re-evaluation for Vitamin B12 and Folic acid levels.
In fact, i would advice you to go for Bone marrow examination that would prove the what we all are just guessing.
If there is any bone marrow issue, it would show up in reports.
This is unlikely to be due to liver damage, but if you have any history of liver dysfunction we need to work upon it too.
Ideally, you should avoid alcohol.
I hope it helps you.
If you have any further query, please ask me.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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