Anemia Diagnosis and Classification

Anemia Diagnosis

Definition and Classification

• Anemia: a condition characterized by a decrease in red blood cell (RBC) mass, resulting in inadequate oxygen delivery to tissues
• Classified into three main categories:
  1. Microcytic anemia: RBCs are smaller than normal
  2. Normocytic anemia: RBCs are normal in size
  3. Macrocytic anemia: RBCs are larger than normal

Diagnostic Approach

• Complete Blood Count (CBC): initial diagnostic test to evaluate anemia
  • Red Blood Cell Count (RBC)
  • Hemoglobin (Hb)
  • Hematocrit (Hct)
  • Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
• Peripheral Blood Smear: examination of RBC morphology
• Reticulocyte Count: measures immature RBC production

Laboratory Tests

• Iron Studies:
  • Serum Iron
  • Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC)
  • Transferrin Saturation
• Vitamin Deficiency Tests:
  • Vitamin B12 levels
  • Folate levels
• Red Blood Cell Distribution Width (RDW): measures RBC size variation
• Bone Marrow Examination: in some cases, to evaluate bone marrow function and morphology

Diagnostic Criteria

• Anemia: Hb < 13.5 g/dL in men, < 12 g/dL in women
• Microcytic anemia: MCV < 80 fL
• Normocytic anemia: MCV 80-100 fL
• Macrocytic anemia: MCV > 100 fL

Additional Tests (as needed)

• Serum Erythropoietin (EPO) levels: to evaluate erythropoiesis
• Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA) Workup: to rule out AIHA
• Malaria or other infection tests: to rule out infectious causes

Anemia Diagnosis

Definition and Classification

• Anemia is a condition characterized by a decrease in red blood cell (RBC) mass, resulting in inadequate oxygen delivery to tissues
• Three main categories of anemia: microcytic, normocytic, and macrocytic, based on RBC size

Diagnostic Approach

• Complete Blood Count (CBC) is the initial diagnostic test to evaluate anemia, measuring:
  • Red Blood Cell Count (RBC)
  • Hemoglobin (Hb)
  • Hematocrit (Hct)
  • Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
• Peripheral Blood Smear examination of RBC morphology
• Reticulocyte Count measures immature RBC production

Laboratory Tests

• Iron Studies:
  • Serum Iron levels
  • Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC)
  • Transferrin Saturation
• Vitamin Deficiency Tests:
  • Vitamin B12 levels
  • Folate levels
• Red Blood Cell Distribution Width (RDW) measures RBC size variation
• Bone Marrow Examination evaluates bone marrow function and morphology (in some cases)

Diagnostic Criteria

• Anemia: Hemoglobin (Hb) < 13.5 g/dL in men, < 12 g/dL in women
• Microcytic anemia: Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) < 80 fL
• Normocytic anemia: MCV 80-100 fL
• Macrocytic anemia: MCV > 100 fL

Additional Tests (as needed)

• Serum Erythropoietin (EPO) levels evaluate erythropoiesis
• Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA) Workup rules out AIHA
• Malaria or other infection tests rule out infectious causes

This quiz covers the definition and classification of anemia, including microcytic, normocytic, and macrocytic anemia, as well as the diagnostic approach using a complete blood count (CBC).