Skip to main content
Canadian Family Physician logoLink to Canadian Family Physician
. 1984 Sep;30:1881-1882, 1885-1888.

The Diagnosis of Anemia and Its Cause

G R Langley, J M Langley
PMCID: PMC2154208  PMID: 21279104

Abstract

Screening patients for anemia and determining its cause is challenging and rewarding. Ordinarily, the cause can be readily diagnosed and treatment is available. A clinical approach to the diagnosis of anemia is presented. After clinically determining whether the anemia is due to decreased production of red blood cells, increased destruction, or loss of blood, initial laboratory investigations are specifically chosen to confirm the clinical impression or to answer basic clinical questions. The clinical features and initial laboratory findings should direct subsequent diagnostic and/or treatment approaches.

Full text

PDF
1881

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BOGGS D. R., WINTROBE M. M., CARTWRIGHT G. E. The acute leukemias. Analysis of 322 cases and review of the literature. Medicine (Baltimore) 1962 Sep;41:163–225. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bessman J. D., Gilmer P. R., Jr, Gardner F. H. Improved classification of anemias by MCV and RDW. Am J Clin Pathol. 1983 Sep;80(3):322–326. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/80.3.322. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Dawson A. A., Ogston D., Fullerton H. W. Evaluation of diagnostic significance of certain symptoms and physical signs in anaemic patients. Br Med J. 1969 Aug 23;3(5668):436–439. doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5668.436. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. De Leeuw N. K., Lowenstein L., Hsieh Y. S. Iron deficiency and hydremia in normal pregnancy. Medicine (Baltimore) 1966 Jul;45(4):291–315. doi: 10.1097/00005792-196607000-00002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Pinkerton P. H., Spence I., Ogilvie J. C., Ronald W. A., Marchant P., Ray P. K. An assessment of the Coulter counter model S. J Clin Pathol. 1970 Feb;23(1):68–76. doi: 10.1136/jcp.23.1.68. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Yip R., Johnson C., Dallman P. R. Age-related changes in laboratory values used in the diagnosis of anemia and iron deficiency. Am J Clin Nutr. 1984 Mar;39(3):427–436. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/39.3.427. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Canadian Family Physician are provided here courtesy of College of Family Physicians of Canada

RESOURCES