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anemia of chronic liver disease
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:
1) defective erythropoiesis
2) slightly diminished erythrocyte survival
3) alcohol
a) directly suppresses erythropoiesis
b) gastrointestinal hemorrhage not uncommon
c) folate deficiency not uncommon
d) hemolytic anemia, rare
Laboratory:
1) complete blood count
a) normocytic or macrocytic
b) absolute reticulocyte count is low
c) target cells
d) stomatocytes
2) bone marrow: normal
Interactions
disease interactions
General
anemia of chronic disease (ACD)
References
- Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 13th ed.
Isselbacher et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY,
1994, pg 1734