Microcytic anaemia differential - red cell indices interpretation
Core concept
- Microcytic anaemia (MCV <80 fL) differential is narrowed rapidly by red cell indices and iron studies, before reaching for further tests
- Main causes: iron deficiency, thalassaemia trait, anaemia of chronic disease (occasionally microcytic), sideroblastic anaemia, lead poisoning
- RDW (red cell distribution width) is the key discriminator between iron deficiency (high RDW, heterogeneous) and thalassaemia trait (normal RDW, uniformly small cells)
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