A megaloblast is an unusually large erythroblast that can be associated with vitamin B12 deficiency (caused by pernicious anemia or dietary insufficiency), folic acid deficiency, or both (such anemias are collectively called megaloblastic anemias). This kind of anemia leads to macrocytes (abnormally large red cells) and the condition called macrocytosis. The cause of this cellular gigantism is an impairment in DNA replication that delays nuclear maturation and cell division. Because RNA and cytoplasmic elements are synthesized at a constant rate despite the cells' impaired DNA synthesis, the cells show nuclear-cytoplasmic asynchrony.
Nucleated red blood cell
Binucleated cells
Red cell agglutination
Erythrocyte fragility
Plasmacytosis
Lycopenemia
Hypersegmented neutrophil
Thrombocythemia