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## Microcytic hypochromic anemia Normal RBC * Hemoglobinopathies * Thalassemia * Alpha * Beta * HbC * HbAC * HbCC * HbSC * HbE * HbAE * HDEE * Inflammation * Others (rare) * Sideroblastic anemia (congenital) * Lead poisoni...

## Microcytic hypochromic anemia Normal RBC * Hemoglobinopathies * Thalassemia * Alpha * Beta * HbC * HbAC * HbCC * HbSC * HbE * HbAE * HDEE * Inflammation * Others (rare) * Sideroblastic anemia (congenital) * Lead poisoning * Hyperthyroidism * Fragmentation syndrome (MAHA) * Horn cell * Helmet cell (Schistocytes) ### Iron Deficiency Anemia * One of the most common medical problems * Most common cause of anemia * **3 stages of iron depletion and iron deficiency** * **Iron depletion:** absent or decreased iron stores * **Iron deficiency:** depletion of stores + low serum iron and ferritin * **Iron deficiency anemia:** Anemia developing in an iron deficient patient ### Body Iron * Total amount of body iron: 3-5 gm * Iron is located at the center of heme molecules of Hb (amount: 1.5-2 gm) * Iron is also present in muscle as myoglobin * Iron is present in most cells of the body in iron-containing enzymes (e.g., cytochromes and catalase) * Storage forms are ferritin and hemosiderin (1 gm in men, 0.5gm in women), in the bone marrow, liver and spleen * Transport iron is about 7 mg and bound to transferrin. ### Total iron binding capacity * It is a laboratory test that measures the capacity of transferrin to bind iron * It is measured by quantifying the iron binding sites available * Transferrin saturation = serum iron/TIBC% ### Causes of iron deficiency * Increased physiologic demands 33