Anemia Comparison

• Types of Anemia

  • Normocytic/Normochromic Anemia
  • Sickle Cell Anemia
  • Sickle Cell Trait
  • Hemoglobin C Disease
  • Hereditary Spherocytosis
  • Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
  • Microcytic/Hypochromic Anemia (Thalassemia, Iron deficiency)
  • Anemia of Chronic Disease
  • Sideroblastic Anemia
  • Megaloblastic Anemia (Pernicious anemia, Non-megaloblastic anemia)
• Sickle Cell Anemia

  Valine substituted for glutamic acid in the β-chain position, Hemoglobin S polymerizes under hypoxic conditions leading to sickle cell formation
• Sickle Cell Trait

  Inherited from one parent, no formation of sickle cells unless under hypoxic conditions
• Hemoglobin C Disease

  Lysine substituted for glutamic acid in the β-chain position, Hgb C crystals formation
• Hereditary Spherocytosis

  Protein defect in cell membrane, loss of membrane and decrease in surface area-to-volume ratio
• Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

  Autoantibodies destroy RBCs
• Thalassemia

  Decreased β-chain or α-chain synthesis
• Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA)

  Inadequate iron for hemoglobin synthesis
• Anemia of Chronic Disease

  Acute phase reactants effect iron absorption
• Sideroblastic Anemia

  Enzyme defect in heme synthesis
• Megaloblastic Anemia

  B12 or folic acid deficiency, impaired synthesis of DNA (nuclear maturation lags behind cytoplasmic development)
• Pernicious Anemia/megaloblastic


  Caused by decreased intrinsic factor (B12 deficiency)
• Normocytic/Normochromic Anemia


  • Moderate to severe anemia, Positive solubility test, No sickle cells unless hypoxic conditions, No anemia, Many target cells
• Sickle Cell Anemia


  • Positive sickly test, Sickle cells
• Sickle Cell Trait


  • No anemia, Many target cells, Hgb C crystals, Mild to moderate anemia
• Hereditary Spherocytosis


  • MCHC>60g/L, Spherocytes, Polychromasia, Increased osmotic fragility
• Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia


  • Spherocytes, Polychromasia and RBCs, Positive DAT, Aniso and poikilocytosis
• Microcytic/Hypochromic Anemia


  • Microcytic/hypochromic RBCs, MCV 80 fL and MCH < 32 pg, Micro/hypo RBCs, Two populations of RBCs (normo and micro), Pappenheimer bodies
• Megaloblastic Anemia


  • Oval macrocytes (>100fL), MCV 100 fL, Hypersegmented neutrophils, Pancytopenia • Pernicious anemia
• Non-megaloblastic anemia


  • Round macrocytes