What Is Polychromasia?

Genetic hemolytic anemia. Certain inherited blood disorders can also cause hemolytic anemia. Your parents can pass the gene to you. And you can get hemolytic anemia at birth. 

Sickle cell anemia and thalassemiaare two inherited blood disorders that can cause hemolytic anemia. Your red blood cells are abnormal with these disorders. And your RBCs don't live as long as regular ones.

Acquired hemolytic anemia. But you can also develop hemolytic anemia later in life. With this anemia, your body makes normal red blood cells, but they're destroyed too quickly. 

You can acquire hemolytic anemia because you have:

• A reaction to a blood transfusion
• A tumor
• An overactive spleen (organ that destroys red blood cells)
• A viral or bacterial infection
• Cancer of the blood (leukemia)
• Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune disease
• A mechanical heart valve
• Taken medicines such as acetaminophen, antimalarial drugs, penicillin, or sulfa medication

Hemorrhage. Serious blood loss (hemorrhage) can also cause polychromasia. If you lose a large amount of blood, your red blood cells quickly enter your bloodstream. Your body releases younger blood cells after about four days, instead of seven. This helps replace the lost blood cells.

Symptoms of Polychromasia

Polychromasia itself doesn't have symptoms. But the medical conditions that cause polychromasia do. 

Commonly, anemia causes polychromasia. With anemia, you may notice:

• Weakness
• Faster heart rate (tachycardia)
• Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
• Fatigue
• Easy bleeding
• Paleness
• Headache
• Fever
• Bone pain
• Confusion
• Enlarged spleen
• Enlarged liver
• Dizziness

How Is Polychromasia Diagnosed?

Polychromasia isn't really a diagnosis — it simply describes the bluish color of younger red blood cells. But your doctor usually finds out about polychromia using a blood test. 

The blood test is called a peripheral blood smear. They'll also take a blood sample for a complete blood count (CBC), too. Most labs use special hematology machines to measure your blood cells. These machines can precisely test and count your reticulocytes.

Peripheral blood smear

A peripheral blood smear spreads a small sample of your blood on a glass slide. A special dye called Wright-Giemsa stains your red blood cells. The blood cells are examined under a microscope.

A blood smear tells your doctor about the different types of cells. The laboratory will count your red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. And the amounts of each cell type can help your doctor diagnose your condition. 

Your blood cells mature at different rates. Polychromasia shows up when younger red blood cells appear bluish. Certain dyes stain structures inside the younger red blood cells. So reticulocytes can stain deeper or lighter blue. They can also have dark blue specks or dots. 

Polychromasia Treatment

Sometimes, you may not have symptoms with medical conditions causing mild polychromasia. With mild anemia, you may not need treatment. But treatment depends on the cause for your polychromasia.

But polychromasia can sometimes be a sign of a medical condition requiring treatment. And some medical conditions, if untreated, can progress. They may become life-threatening in some cases. 

It's important to talk to your health care provider about your diagnosis. Your doctor can help you decide on the best treatment plan. Some treatments you may get include:

• Medicine to target infections for viruses, bacteria, or parasites
• Steroid for an autoimmune condition, causing your RBCs to be destroyed
• Blood transfusion if you're losing too much blood or have an inherited condition, like sickle cell disease
• Immunosuppressant medication if your immune system destroys your red blood cells and steroids don't work
• Bone marrow transplant if you have a certain type of blood cancer

Your doctor can guide you on how to stop or switch medications. Always talk to your health care provider about any new medications or symptoms, too.

How to Prevent Polychromasia

You can't directly prevent polychromasia. But you can lower your risk for some medical conditions. You can also get regular health checkups to detect early signs for any blood disorder.

To lower your risk, you can:

• Stay up-to-date with your vaccinations to prevent infections.
• Take preventive measures, wear a mask, and wash your hands often.
• Talk to a nutritionist about eating a healthy diet. Try to eat foods rich in vitamins B12, C, and folic acid (B9). These vitamins can help keep your red blood cells strong.
• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
• Exercise on a regular basis to keep your body healthy.
• Track your symptoms, write them down, and talk to your doctor about any changes.
• Get regular health checkups.

Living With Polychromasia

Certain lifestyle changes can help your body make healthy red blood cells. 

You can try to:

• Eat a diet rich in iron and vitamins. 
• Get regular exercise
• Drink plenty of water and other liquids. 

These habits can improve red blood cell production and boost your overall health.

Should I be worried about polychromasia?

Polychromasia usually isn't serious. Always talk to your doctor if you have polychromasia. In most cases, polychromasia is temporary. And the medical condition doesn’t need treatment. 

But sometimes, it can be a sign of a serious blood disorder or anemia. Talk to your doctor if you have polychromasia.

When should I see my health care provider?

Check with your health care provider if you have polychromasia. Or if you have symptoms for hemolytic anemia.

With hemolytic anemia, you may:

• Feel tired
• Look pale
• Get short of breath
• Have a pain in your chest
• Get confused or have an altered mental state
• Have signs of infection, fever, or chills
• Have unexplained bruising or bleeding

Your doctor can check your blood count and look for any signs of serious anemia or bone marrow problems.

Takeaways

Polychromasia is the bluish color of younger, immature red blood cells (RBCs) compared to normal ones. It's usually not serious, but anemia, blood loss, and certain cancers can cause polychromasia. If you feel tired, look pale, or get short of breath, talk to your doctor about treatment for what’s causing your polychromasia.

Polychromasia FAQs

What is the difference between hypochromia and polychromasia?

Hypochromia and polychromasia both describe the color of red blood cells under a microscope. But hypochromia means the blood cells are pale red. Polychromasia means they're a bluish color. 

Hypochromia can mean you have microcytic anemia. It's a type of anemia with small blood cells lacking hemoglobin.

What is polychromasia in megaloblastic anemia?

Megaloblastic anemia can happen because of DNA damage inside your blood cell. With megaloblastic anemia, your red blood cells can also appear bluish-gray (polychromasia). But a different type of anemia causes the release of immature RBCs.

Certain vitamin deficiencies can cause megaloblastic anemia. Lower folate or B12 are commonly the reason. 

What is anisocytosis and polychromasia?

Anisocytosis refers to the size of your red blood cells but polychromasia is about color. Anisocytosis means your red blood cells are different sizes. Polychromasia means your immature, developing RBCs stain a bluish color. 

With anisocytosis, nutrition problems like iron deficiency can cause your anemia.