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Anemia Differential Diagnosis

The differential diagnosis for anemia can be organized into the following categories:

  • Single Most Likely Diagnosis

    • Iron deficiency anemia: This is the most common cause of anemia, particularly in women of childbearing age due to menstrual blood loss, and in individuals with gastrointestinal bleeding or poor dietary intake of iron.

  • Other Likely Diagnoses

    • Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia: Common in the elderly, vegetarians, and individuals with gastrointestinal disorders that impair absorption, such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease.
    • Anemia of chronic disease: Often seen in patients with chronic infections, inflammatory conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), or malignancies.
    • Sickle cell anemia: A genetic disorder more common in individuals of African descent, characterized by abnormal hemoglobin.
    • Thalassemia: A genetic disorder affecting hemoglobin production, more prevalent in individuals of Mediterranean, African, or Asian descent.

  • Do Not Miss Diagnoses

    • Acute blood loss: Could be due to trauma, surgery, or internal bleeding, which requires immediate attention.
    • Hemolytic anemias (e.g., autoimmune hemolytic anemia, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria): Conditions where red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be made.
    • Leukemia or lymphoma: Malignancies that can cause anemia due to bone marrow infiltration.
    • Myelodysplastic syndromes: A group of disorders caused by poorly formed or dysfunctional blood cells, which can progress to leukemia.

  • Rare Diagnoses

    • Pernicious anemia: An autoimmune condition leading to vitamin B12 deficiency due to the lack of intrinsic factor.
    • Fanconi anemia: A rare genetic disorder that affects the body's ability to produce new blood cells.
    • Porphyrias: A group of disorders that can lead to anemia due to defects in heme biosynthesis.
    • Lead poisoning: Can cause anemia by interfering with heme synthesis and causing hemolysis.
    • Sideroblastic anemia: Characterized by the accumulation of iron in mitochondria of red blood cell precursors, can be congenital or acquired.

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This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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