Microcytic anaemia

Principal causes of microcytic anaemia are:

Chronic iron deficiency due to

• occult gastrointestinal blood loss (ancylostomiasis, gastritis, peptic ulcer, stomach or colon carcinoma, severe schistosomiasis)

• gynaecological abnormalities (menorrhagia, metrorhagia, post-partum blood loss). Heavy menstrual blood loss in the absence of gynaecological abnormalities is often caused by von Willebrand disease.

• nutritional deficiency

• gluten enteropathy can result in mixed deficiencies

Haemoglobinopathy

• thalassaemia major and intermedia

• sickle cell anaemia can be microcytic or normocytic

Rare causes

• Microcytic anaemia can occur with vitamin C deficiency (scurvy). Spontaneous bleeding (e.g. of the gums) and perifollicular petechiae will suggest the diagnosis in these cases.

Category: Pathology Notes