The etiology of the anemia of chronic disease and infection

Abstract

Anemia of infection and chronic disease has traditionally been considered a disorder associated with infections/inflammation. We instead propose that the anemia of infection and chronic disease confers protection from pathogen or neoplastic invasion. There is substantial microbiological and medical research that indicates that the anemia of infection and chronic disease may be a non-specific immunological defense. We suggest it is analogous to fever, which was also originally considered to be a disorder in need of treatment but which is now seen as a positive response of the host to microbial invasion. We suggest that these two non-specific defenses against microorganism proliferation may have evolved together as complementary strategies the body employs to ward off disease.