Anemia is a common condition, particularly in young women and also in the geriatric population.
Anemia is defined as hemoglobin (Hb) < 120g/L in women and Hb < 130 g/Lin men. The Hb concentration can be low due to a reduced number of red blood cells (RBC)/ml or a reduced hemoglobin content of the RBC. This definition of anemia also includes the so-called pseudo anemia, where Hb concentration is lower due to an increase of the plasma volume like in pregnancy, cardiac heart failure and hyperproteinaemia.
The causes of anemia can be either the loss or destruction of the RBC or a lower rate in the production of new RBC. The reason of destruction of RBC can be multiple: from inherited Hb disease like sickle cell or Beta-thallasemia to infection like Malaria. The cause of low rate in production is mostly due to deficiencies; iron deficiency is even the most frequent cause of anemia. A useful marker of this kind of anemia is the RBC volume (MCV), which indicates that there is either a nuclear maturation defect or an Hb synthesis defect. When the Hb concentration in the RBC is already achieved after a low numbers of cells division there is the productions of large RBC, macrocystosis while when the Hb content stay low, the RBC will divide more and this will lead to small RBC, microcytosis.
Iron deficiency remains the most common cause of microcytotic anemia. Iron metabolism is regulated by the intestine absorption and the serum iron level. Iron deficiency is defined as low Fe serum level, elevated transferrin binding capacity and low Ferritin. Iron deficiency is frequently found in menstruating woman, patients with chronical blood loss, people who have Fe absorption problems or have an increase iron need like in pregnancy, breast feeding cancer.
In the RBC formation two vitamins are necessary: folate (Vitamin B9) and Vitamin B12. Deficiency on one of these vitamins will lead on long term to anemia which is characterized with macrocytosis.
Tosoh Diagnostics provides a range of anemia markers that can assist physicians with their diagnose, select the markers below to continue.
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Ferritin |
Vitamin B12 |
Folate |
Red Cell Folate |
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