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Book

Anemia

Jake Turner  1 , Meghana Parsi  2 , Madhu Badireddy  3
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
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Book

Anemia

Jake Turner et al.
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Excerpt

Anemia is described as a reduction in the proportion of the red blood cells. Anemia is not a diagnosis, but a presentation of an underlying condition. Whether or not a patient becomes symptomatic depends on the etiology of anemia, the acuity of onset, and the presence of other comorbidities, especially the presence of cardiovascular disease. Most patients experience some symptoms related to anemia when the hemoglobin drops below 7.0 g/dL.

Erythropoietin (EPO), which is made in the kidney, is the major stimulator of red blood cell (RBC) production. Tissue hypoxia is the major stimulator of EPO production, and levels of EPO are generally inversely proportional to the hemoglobin concentration. In other words, an individual who is anemic with low hemoglobin has elevated levels of EPO. However, levels of EPO are lower than expected in anemic patients with renal failure. In anemia of chronic disease (AOCD), EPO levels are generally elevated, but not as high as they should be, demonstrating a relative deficiency of EPO.

Normal Hemoglobin (Hgb)-specific laboratory cut-offs will differ slightly, but in general, the normal ranges are as follows:

  1. 13.5 to 18.0 g/dL in men

  2. 12.0 to 15.0 g/dL in women

  3. 11.0 to 16.0 g/dL in children

  4. Varied in pregnancy depending on the trimester, but generally greater than 10.0 g/dL

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Jake Turner declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Meghana Parsi declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Madhu Badireddy declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

    1. Usuki K. [Anemia: From Basic Knowledge to Up-to-Date Treatment. Topic: IV. Hemolytic anemia: Diagnosis and treatment]. Nihon Naika Gakkai Zasshi. 2015 Jul 10;104(7):1389-96. - PubMed
    1. Bottomley SS, Fleming MD. Sideroblastic anemia: diagnosis and management. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2014 Aug;28(4):653-70, v. - PubMed
    1. Engebretsen KV, Blom-Høgestøl IK, Hewitt S, Risstad H, Moum B, Kristinsson JA, Mala T. Anemia following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity; a 5-year follow-up study. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2018 Aug;53(8):917-922. - PubMed
    1. Patel KV. Epidemiology of anemia in older adults. Semin Hematol. 2008 Oct;45(4):210-7. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Badireddy M, Baradhi KM. StatPearls [Internet] StatPearls Publishing; Treasure Island (FL): 2023. Aug 7, Chronic Anemia.

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