Anemia is simply defined as a decreased number of red blood cells. While there are many causes of anemia, this summary will primarily focus on two subtypes of anemia, microcytic and normocytic anemia. The workup for anemia varies based on risk factors, clinical presentation and symptoms, and overall clinical picture. Screening for anemia and specifically iron deficiency is recommended in pregnancy, children at one year of age, and when patients have signs or symptoms indicative of the disease. Iron deficiency can result from inadequate intake, decreased absorption, increased demand, or increased loss of iron, and treatment is therefore focused on the underlying cause.
General Anemia
More Specific to Iron Deficiency
Iron Deficiency
Thalassemia Trait
Anemia of Chronic Disease
Lead Toxicity
Iron Deficiency Anemia
Microcytic Anemia with Suspicion for Thalassemia
Microcytic Anemia with Suspicion for Anemia of Chronic Disease
Microcytic Anemia with Suspicion for Lead Toxicity
Oral Iron
Intravenous (IV) Iron
Blood Transfusion
Iron Deficiency Anemia: Evaluation and Management (Short et al. American Family Physician, 2013)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: Iron-deficiency anemia
Evaluation of Microcytosis (Van Vranken et al. American Family Physician 2010)
CDC: Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
Are you an
ObG Insider?
Get specially curated clinical summaries delivered to your inbox every week for free
Please log in to ObGFirst to access this page
OBG Project CME requires a modern web browser (Internet Explorer 10+, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge). Certain educational activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of their content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Flash, Apple QuickTime, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft PowerPoint, Windows Media Player, or Real Networks Real One Player.
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. The planners of this activity do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications.
The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of the planners. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.
Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information
presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications and/or dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.
It appears you don't have enough CME Hours to take this Post-Test. Feel free to buy additional CME hours or upgrade your current CME subscription plan
You are now leaving the ObG website and on your way to PRIORITY at UCSF, an independent website. Therefore, we are not responsible for the content or availability of this site