As noted in Chapter 3, anemia associated with various chronic diseases is usually normocytic and either normochromic or hypochromic. The serum iron and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) are typically both decreased. In 100 consecutive patients in our hospital who had chronic disease and red cell or iron-related biochemical abnormalities, 68 had anemia with normal mean […]
Anemia due to inadequate erythropoiesis without factor deficiency may be classified in several ways. One system is based on the mechanism involved, including (1) marrow failure to incorporate adequate supplies of hematopoietic raw materials (e.g., iron) into red blood cell (RBC) precursors, (2) failure to release mature RBCs from the marrow, or (3) destruction of […]
Although anemia may be defined as a decrease in Hb concentration, it may result from a pathologic decrease in the RBC count. Since mature RBCs are fully saturated with Hb, such a decrease means that total blood Hb value will also be affected. Before commencing transfusion therapy or an extensive workup for the etiology of […]
