What does a higher-than-normal MCV indicate?

A higher-than-normal mean corpuscular volume (MCV) indicates that the average size of red blood cells is larger than normal, which is a hallmark of macrocytic anemia. This condition often arises due to insufficient production of red blood cells or the presence of larger, immature red blood cells often linked to deficiencies in vitamin B12 or folic acid. Macrocytic anemia can lead to symptoms such as fatigue and weakness, as the effectiveness of oxygen transport is compromised by the presence of improperly functioning red blood cells.

Other options, while they may relate to blood conditions or metabolic states, do not specifically denote the increase in red blood cell size indicated by a high MCV. For instance, anemia as a general term can encompass both macrocytic and microcytic anemias, but it does not specifically refer to the macrocytic type. Dehydration can alter the concentration of blood components but is not directly related to the size of red blood cells. Hypoxia refers to a lack of oxygen in tissues and is not intrinsically connected to mean corpuscular volume.