Causes of Anemia with Low Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) - Differential Diagnosis Algorithm
Decreased Heme Synthesis or Decreased Globin Synthesis
Ferritin decreased, serum iron decreased, TIBC increased - Fe/TlBC, MCV/RBC>13
• Iron Deficiency (Eg Causes: Chronic Blood Loss, Occult Bleed, Malabsorption, Dietary Deficiency)
Ferritin normal/increased, serum iron decreased, TIBC normal/decreased - Fe/TlBC > 18%
• Anemia Secondary to Inflammation
Ferritin normal/increased, Serum iron normal, TIBC Normal - MCV/RBC<13, +/- basophilic stippling, +/- increased reticulocytes
- Increased HgbA2, Normal HgbA
• Beta-Thalassemia Minor
- Increased HgbA2, Increased HgbF, No HgbA
• Beta-Thalassemia Major
- Increased HgbH, HgbH inclusions in RBC
• Alpha-Thalassemia 2-3 digene deletion
- Other
• e.g. HgbE, HgbC, etc.
#Microcytic #Anemia #Macrocytosis #elevatedMCV #Differential #Diagnosis #Algorithm #Causes #Hematology
