NAVLE® Question of the day

Chronic external blood loss (i.e., gastrointestinal hemorrhage) is the most common cause of iron-deficiency anemia.

Dietary iron or copper deficiency or excessive zinc may also cause iron deficiency anemia.

Look for microcytic, hypochromic anemia which may be regenerative or non-regenerative. Also look for evidence of red blood cell (RBC) fragmentation - i.e., acanthocytes, schistocytes, and keratocytes.

The heme group of hemoglobin contains iron and therefore deficiency causes decreased hemoglobin production. The most common cause of iron deficiency anemia is chronic external blood loss (e.g., chronic gastrointestinal bleeding).

Here is information on iron deficiency anemia from Cornell's eClinPath website.