Anaemia is a low haemoglobin, and the mean cell volume points to the cause.
Anaemia: haemoglobin below 13 g/dL in men and 12 g/dL in women. Symptoms: fatigue, pallor, dyspnoea, tachycardia.
- Microcytic (MCV below 80): iron deficiency (low ferritin; look for bleeding), thalassaemia trait, anaemia of chronic disease.
- Normocytic: chronic disease, acute blood loss, renal failure, haemolysis (raised reticulocytes, bilirubin and LDH, low haptoglobin).
- Macrocytic (MCV above 100): vitamin B12 and folate deficiency (megaloblastic), alcohol, hypothyroidism, myelodysplasia.
Investigations: blood count, reticulocytes, ferritin and iron studies, B12, folate, renal and thyroid function, blood film. Treatment addresses the cause: oral or intravenous iron, B12 injections, transfusion when severe.