3- ANEMIA OF CHRONIC DISEASE

• Anemia of chronic disease

  May be normocytic normochromic or microcytic
• Anemia of chronic disease occurs due to

  1. Decreased iron release from bone marrow

  2. Decreased erythropoietin response

  3. Increased hepcidin
• Causes of anemia of chronic disease

  • Chronic inflammatory diseases (e.g. Crohn's, rheumatoid arthritis)
  • Chronic infections (e.g. TB)
  • Malignancy
  • Chronic kidney disease
• Lab findings in anemia of chronic disease

  • Increased hepcidin
  • Decreased serum iron
  • Decreased TIBC
  • Increased/normal ferritin
• Treatment of anemia of chronic disease

  Treatment of underlying cause
• Treatment if due to chronic kidney disease

  Recombinant erythropoietin