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==Overview==
==Overview==
'''Anemia''' (American English) or '''anæmia/anaemia''' (British English), from the Greek ({{Polytonic|Ἀναιμία}}) (an-haîma) meaning "without blood", is a deficiency of [[red blood cell]]s (RBCs) and/or [[hemoglobin]]. This results in a reduced ability of blood to transfer [[oxygen]] to the [[tissue (biology)|tissues]], causing tissue [[Hypoxia (medical)|hypoxia]]. Since all human cells depend on [[oxygen]] for survival, varying degrees of anemia can have a wide range of clinical consequences. [[Hemoglobin]] (the oxygen-carrying [[protein]] in the red blood cells) has to be present to ensure adequate [[oxygenation]] of all tissues and organs.  
Anemia is the most common disorder of the blood. '''Anemia''' (American English) or '''anæmia/anaemia''' (British English), from the Greek ({{Polytonic|Ἀναιμία}}) (an-haîma) meaning "without blood", is a deficiency of [[red blood cell]]s (RBCs) and/or [[hemoglobin]]. This results in a reduced ability of blood to transfer [[oxygen]] to the [[tissue (biology)|tissues]], causing tissue [[Hypoxia (medical)|hypoxia]]. Since all human cells depend on [[oxygen]] for survival, varying degrees of anemia can have a wide range of clinical consequences. [[Hemoglobin]] (the oxygen-carrying [[protein]] in the red blood cells) has to be present to ensure adequate [[oxygenation]] of all tissues and organs.  
The three main classes of anemia include excessive blood loss (acutely such as a [[hemorrhage]] or chronically through low-volume loss), excessive blood cell destruction ([[hemolysis]]) or deficient red blood cell production (ineffective [[hematopoiesis]]).  
The three main classes of anemia include excessive blood loss (acutely such as a [[hemorrhage]] or chronically through low-volume loss), excessive blood cell destruction ([[hemolysis]]) or deficient red blood cell production (ineffective [[hematopoiesis]]).  


Anemia is the most common disorder of the blood. There are several kinds of anemia, produced by a variety of underlying causes. Anemia can be classified in a variety of ways, based on the morphology of RBCs, underlying etiologic mechanisms, and discernible clinical spectra, to mention a few.
==References==
 
{{Reflist|2}}


There are two major approaches of classifying anemias, the "kinetic" approach which involves evaluating production, destruction and loss, and the "morphologic" approach which groups anemia by red blood cell size. The morphologic approach uses a quickly available and cheap lab test as its starting point (the [[Mean corpuscular volume|MCV]]). On the other hand, focusing early on the question of production may allow the clinician more rapidly to expose cases where multiple causes of anemia coexist.
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Revision as of 21:40, 25 August 2012


Anemia main page

Overview

Classification

Differential Diagnosis

Medical Therapy

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Overview

Anemia is the most common disorder of the blood. Anemia (American English) or anæmia/anaemia (British English), from the Greek (Template:Polytonic) (an-haîma) meaning "without blood", is a deficiency of red blood cells (RBCs) and/or hemoglobin. This results in a reduced ability of blood to transfer oxygen to the tissues, causing tissue hypoxia. Since all human cells depend on oxygen for survival, varying degrees of anemia can have a wide range of clinical consequences. Hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying protein in the red blood cells) has to be present to ensure adequate oxygenation of all tissues and organs. The three main classes of anemia include excessive blood loss (acutely such as a hemorrhage or chronically through low-volume loss), excessive blood cell destruction (hemolysis) or deficient red blood cell production (ineffective hematopoiesis).

References