anemia of chronic liver disease
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Introduction
Patients with chronic liver disease usually have a mild anemia, regardless of cause. Additionally, an increased plasma volume artificially lowers the hematocrit even further.
Etiology
- defective erythropoiesis
- slightly diminished erythrocyte survival
- alcohol
- directly suppresses erythropoiesis
- gastrointestinal hemorrhage not uncommon
- folate deficiency not uncommon
- hemolytic anemia, rare
Laboratory
- complete blood count
- normocytic or macrocytic
- absolute reticulocyte count is low
- target cells
- stomatocytes
- bone marrow: normal
More general terms
References
- ↑ Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 13th ed. Isselbacher et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY, 1994, pg 1734