Anemia can result from excessive RBC loss due to bleeding or insufficient RBC production by the bone marrow. If the cells are excessively destroyed in the blood or spleen, hemolytic anemia is present. B. Causes Anemia is a symptom of many underlying diseases. The most common are iron deficiency , acute blood loss, and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis . Hypoproliferative anemia can be subdivided into three classes based upon the size of the RBCs.
Macrocytic anemia can be due to several causes.
The first is a deficiency in vitamin B 12 or folate, both important ingredients in RBC production. Please see Vitamin B 12 Insufficiency and Folic Acid Insufficiency . It may also be caused by disease of the bone marrow such as myeloproliferative disorders, inherited bone marrow diseases, or cancer. Please see Myeloproliferative Disorders and Leukemia . Microcytic anemia is due to abnormalities in the production of the essential RBC protein, hemoglobin.