Anemias continue to present a challenge to the health care profession. Anemia is defined as a reduction in one or more of the RBC indices. Patients presenting with a mild form of anemia may be asymptomatic; however, in more serious cases the anemia can become life threatening. In many cases the clinical presentation also reflects the underlying cause. Anemia may be attributed to various causes, whereas autoimmune RBC destruction may be attributed to intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Laboratory tests are essential in facilitating early detection and differentiation of anemia.
Keywords: Anemia; Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA); B(12) deficiency; Hematocrit; Hemoglobin; Iron deficiency; Sickle cell anemia (SCA); Sickle cell disease (SCD).
Published by Elsevier Inc.