Assessment of Anaemia in Adults (English Edition)

Anaemia is the most common blood disorder encountered in outpatient care, iron deficiency anaemia is the most common form of anaemia, and anaemia associated with a chronic disease (secondary anaemia) is the next most common form. The essential questions in the assessment of anaemia are: What is the type of anaemia (according to automated MCV determination)? microcytic (MCV < 80 fl) normocytic (MCV 80-100 fl) macrocytic (MCV > 100 fl) What is the mechanism (decreased production or increased destruction of red cells)? What is the diagnosis: the pathophysiology and underlying cause of the anaemia?