Anemia

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Hemoglobin	Ovalocytoses	Red blood cells, elliptocytosis	Red blood cells, multiple sickle cells
Red blood cells, sickle and pappenheimer	Red blood cells, sickle cell	Red blood cells, sickle cells	Red blood cells, spherocytosis
Red blood cells, target cells

Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues.

Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying protein inside red blood cells. It gives red blood cells their red color. People with anemia do not have enough hemoglobin.

See also:

• Anemia due to B12 deficiency
• Anemia due to folate deficiency
• Anemia due to iron deficiency
• Hemolytic anemia
• Hemolytic anemia due to G-6-PD deficiency
• Idiopathic aplastic anemia
• Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia
• Immune hemolytic anemia
• Megaloblastic anemia
• Pernicious anemia
• Secondary aplastic anemia
• Sickle cell anemia

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The cause depends on the type of anemia. Possible causes include:

• Certain medications
• Diseases such as cancer or rheumatoid arthritis
• Genes -- some forms of anemia can be inherited
• Kidney failure
• Blood loss (for example, from heavy menstrual periods)
• Poor diet
• Pregnancy
• Problems with bone marrow (where blood cells are made)
• Problems with the immune system that cause the destruction of blood cells
• Surgery to the stomach or intestines that reduces the absorption of iron, vitamin B12, or folic acid

Review Date: 04/05/2009
Reviewed By: Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc