What is the Mentzer index?
MCV/RBC. This is one of the formulas used to distinguish the hypochromic, microcytic anemias of the thalassemia trait from iron deficiency. As a general rule, iron deficiency causes alterations in RBCs that tend to be variable, whereas thalassemia generally results in more uniformly smaller cells. In patients with the beta-thalassemia trait, the Mentzer index is usually <13; in patients with iron deficiency, it is usually >13.
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