decrease RBC mass:
男: Hct <41 or Hb <13.5
女: Hct <36 or Hb <12
IDA: Iron deficiency (NEJM 1999;341:1986 )
•
↑ marrow iron & depleted body iron stores ->
↓ heme synthesis -> microcytosis -> anemia
• Special clinical manifestations:
angular cheilosis, atrophic glossitis,
pica (consumption of nonnutritive substances such as ice, clay),
koilonychia (nail spooning)
Plummer-Vinson syndrome (iron deficiency anemia, esophageal web & atrophic glossitis)
•
Etiologies:
chronic
bleeding (GI—including cancer, menstrual, etc.),
↓ supply (mal-nutrition;
↓ absorp. due to celiac sprue, Crohn’s,
↑ gastric pH, subtotal gastrecto-my),
↑ demand (preg., epo).
Rare Fe-refractory genetic disorder due to hepcidin dysregulation (Nat Genet 2008;40:569).
•
Diagnosis:
↓ Fe,
↑ TIBC,
↓ ferritin (espec. 15),
↓ transferrin sat (Fe/TIBC; espec. 15%),
↑ soluble transferrin receptor;
↑ plt; unless hx c/w different etiology,
initiate workup for GIB; incl. H. pylori serology,
? celiac sprue labs (anti-TTG, antigliadin, antiendomysial Ab)
Treatment (Fe supplementation):
-
oral Fe tid ( 6 wk to correct anemia; 6 mo to replete Fe stores);
-in cases of excessive/persistent GI losses or for dialysis or cancer Pts prior to EPO Rx,
IV iron (Fe-sucrose, -gluconate, -dextrose) should be considered