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Anemia ( American English) or anaemia ( British English) is a lack of red blood cells and/or hemoglobin. This results in a reduced ability of blood to transfer oxygen to the tissues. Hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying protein in the red blood cells) has to be present to ensure adequate oxygenation of all body tissues.
Anemia is the most common disorder of the blood. There are several kinds of anemia, produced by a variety of underlying causes. Anemia is classified by the size of the red blood cell: decreased (microcytic), normal (normocytic) or enlarged (macrocytic or megaloblastic).
Anemia goes undetected in many people, and symptoms can be vague. Most commonly, a feeling of weakness or fatigue is reported. Shortness of breath is reported in more severe cases. Very severe anemia prompts a compensatory response where cardiac output is markedly increased, leading to palpitations and sweatiness; this process can lead to heart failure in elderly people.
Pallor (pale skin and mucosal linings) is only notable in cases of severe anemia, and is therefore not a reliable sign.
The only way to diagnose anemia is with a blood test. Generally, a full blood count is done. Apart from reporting the amount of red blood cells and the hemoglobin level, the automatic countersAn automated analyser is a laboratory machine designed to process a number of samples quickly, with minimal human assistance. Different methods of putting samples through have been invented, but usually involve placing test tubes of sample into racks, whi also measure the size of the red blood cells, which is an important tool in distinguishing between the causes.
Occasionally, other tests are required to further distinguish the cause for anemia. These are discussed with the differential diagnosis (below). The doctor may also decide to take some other screening blood tests that might identify the cause of fatigue; glucoseGlucose a simple monosaccharide sugar, is one of the most important carbohydrates and is used as a source of energy in animals and plants. Glucose is one of the main products of photosynthesis and starts respiration. The natural form (D-glucose) is also r levels, ESRThe erythrocyte sedimentation rate ESR , also called a sedimentation rate sed rate or Biernacki Reaction is a non-specific measure of inflammation that is commonly used as a medical screening test. To perform the test, anticoagulated blood is placed in an, ferritinFerritin is a protein which can store about 4500 iron ions in a hollow shell made of 24 identical subunits. Inside the ferritin shell, iron ions form crystallites together with phosphate and hydroxide ions. Uses Serum ferritin levels are measured in patie, renal functionIn medicine ( nephrology) renal function is an indication of the state of the kidney and its role in physiology. Indirect markers Most doctors use creatinine, urea and electrolytes to determine renal function''. These measures are adequate to determine wh tests and electrolyteAn electrolyte is a substance which dissociates free ions when dissolved (or molten), to produce an electrically conductive medium. Because they generally consist of ions in solution, electrolytes are also known as ionic solutes . They are sometimes refers may be part of such a workup.
Anemia is classified by the size of the red blood cells; this is either done automatically or on microscopic examination of a peripheral blood smear. The size is reflected in the mean corpuscular volumeThe mean corpuscular volume or MCV is a measure of the average red blood cell volume that is reported as part of a standard complete blood count. In patients with anemia, it is the MCV measurement that allows classification as either a microcytic anemia ( (MCV). If the cells are smaller than normal (under 80 fl), the anemia is said to be microcytic; if they are normal size (80-100 fl), normocytic; and if they are larger than normal (over 100 fl), the anemia is classified as macrocytic. Other characteristics visible on the peripheral smear may provide valuable clues about a more specific diagnosis; for example, abnormal white blood cells may point to a cause in the bone marrow.
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