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4: Red Blood Cells- Hypochromic, Microcytic Anemias

  • Page ID
    38750
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    • 4.1: Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA)
      This page discusses iron deficiency anemia (IDA), characterized by abnormal red blood cells. It outlines IDA's three stages: Storage Iron Depletion, Transport Iron Depletion, and Functional Iron Depletion. The causes include chronic blood loss, higher demands during growth or pregnancy, insufficient diet, and absorption issues. Laboratory features at stage 3 reveal decreased RBC, Hb, and Hct, along with irregular iron studies.
    • 4.2: Anemia of Chronic Inflammation/Disease (ACI/ACD)
      This page discusses Anemia of Chronic Inflammation (ACI), associated with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and infections that disrupt iron metabolism and red blood cell production. Key factors include inflammatory cytokines that reduce erythropoietin and erythropoiesis. Laboratory results show decreased RBC counts, normal to decreased hemoglobin, increased ferritin, and lower serum iron and transferrin, reflecting altered iron kinetics.
    • 4.3: Sideroblastic Anemia
      This page details sideroblastic anemia, characterized by a mix of hypochromic microcytic and normochromic normocytic red blood cells. Causes include hereditary mutations and various acquired factors. Laboratory findings show reduced RBC and hemoglobin, variable WBC and platelets, increased RDW, and dimorphism in blood smears. Bone marrow analysis reveals an altered M:E ratio, hyperplasia, and ringed sideroblasts.
    • 4.4: Thalassemia
      This page discusses thalassemias, genetic disorders impacting hemoglobin production, divided into alpha and beta types. Alpha-thalassemia results from deletions of α globin genes, with severity dependent on the number of deletions. The silent carrier state is asymptomatic, whereas α-thalassemia minor leads to mild anemia due to adult hemoglobin compensation. Hemoglobin Barts, produced at birth, typically decreases as individuals mature.
    • 4.5: Iron Studies
      This page discusses iron studies relevant to different anemias, especially hypochromic and microcytic anemias. It features a summary table detailing serum iron metrics and bone marrow iron stores for conditions like iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia minor, anemia of chronic inflammation, and sideroblastic anemia. Visual aids, including bone marrow smear images, further illustrate variations in iron levels, facilitating a better understanding of iron status in these anemias.


    This page titled 4: Red Blood Cells- Hypochromic, Microcytic Anemias was last modified on Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:39:54 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Valentin Villatoro and Michelle To (Open Education Alberta) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.