A differentiated approach to the diagnosis and treatment of anemia of various origins

Abstract

Anemia is a clinical manifestation of many diseases encountered in the practice of a primary care physician, which remains the reason for the high relevance of this problem at the present stage. Anemia is a condition in which the hemoglobin level drops below normal levels (120 g/l in women and 130 g/l in men), which leads to the development of hypoxemia and a deterioration in the supply of oxygen to tissues. Anemia is rarely an independent disease, a similar condition is observed in many chronic processes of infectious and non-infectious genesis, malignant neoplasms, micro- and macronutrient deficiencies, physiological and pathological blood loss, therefore, in such cases it is more correct to speak not about anemia, but anemic syndrome. Its development may be based on acute or chronic bleeding, deficiency of microelements and vitamins, hemolysis, malabsorption of microelements and vitamins, changes in metabolic processes in the liver and synthesis of erythropoietins, inhibition of bone marrow hematopoiesis, and many others. Clinical manifestations of anemia are very non-specific and are characterized by weakness, fatigue, decreased appetite, the development of shortness of breath, tachycardia, and sometimes dizziness, so the main diagnostic method is a complete blood count. Anemia may be hypochromic, normochromic, or hyperchromic, depending on the iron content of the red blood cells. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common in the practice of a family doctor; anemia that develops against the background of chronic diseases, malignant neoplasms and autoimmune processes ranks second.