The results of this blood test can mean many things. If MCHC levels are found to be low, the patient may be suffering from thalassemia or iron-deficiency anemia. By concluding that a patient has this type of anemia, the doctor will further investigate the cause to see whether a patient has problems absorbing iron, whether they have a condition that prevents iron absorption, whether the patient has internal bleeding, or whether the patient has any gastrointestinal tract tumors.
If this test shows elevated MCHC levels, it most often indicates that the patient is suffering from macrocytic anemia. This type of anemia has a variety of causes, such as hereditary spherocytes, vitamin B12 deficiency, liver disease, and folic acid deficiency. All of these are serious conditions that can lead to a variety of serious complications, including life-threatening complications. Burn patients may also have elevated MCHC levels.
