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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does Severe Anemia With Microcytic Cells Indicate Thalassemia?

I had a CBC recently as art of a physical. Everything was normal except the doc said I was severly anemic with microcytic cells. A subsequent test for iron levels found my iron to be normal at 47 (30-170 quoted as he normal range). I am 42 (female) so I think it would be odd that this could be thalassemia (the doc mentioned this as a possibility). I am now being referred to a hematologist. Thoughts about what this could be? My other symptoms include brittle splitting nails, pica (ice), fatigue, dizziness and breathlessness on exertion, pale inner eyelids and gums. Currently I also have a sore throat, I also have severe allergies and recurring sinus infections.
posted on Thu, 13 Mar 2014
Twitter Thu, 1 Jan 2015 Answered on
Twitter Fri, 2 Jan 2015 Last reviewed on
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Pathologist and Microbiologist,  's  Response
Hi
Based on your query and lab findings my opinion is
1. Your symptoms of giddiness, fatigue, pica are all pointers for anemia. That does not necessarily mean you have thalassemia.
2. Severe anemia with microcytic RBCs is commonly caused by iron deficiency.
3. Other causes of microcytic anemia are Chronic diseases/ thalassemia.
4. In your case iron levels are normal but still on the lower limit of normal, so get iron stores, iron saturation and TIBC done to rule out or confirm iron deficiency as cause of anemia.
5. Thalassemia could be a possibility, which can be ruled out or confirmed by Hemoglobin electrophoresis.
Hope this helps.
Wish you good health

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Does Severe Anemia With Microcytic Cells Indicate Thalassemia?

Hi Based on your query and lab findings my opinion is 1. Your symptoms of giddiness, fatigue, pica are all pointers for anemia. That does not necessarily mean you have thalassemia. 2. Severe anemia with microcytic RBCs is commonly caused by iron deficiency. 3. Other causes of microcytic anemia are Chronic diseases/ thalassemia. 4. In your case iron levels are normal but still on the lower limit of normal, so get iron stores, iron saturation and TIBC done to rule out or confirm iron deficiency as cause of anemia. 5. Thalassemia could be a possibility, which can be ruled out or confirmed by Hemoglobin electrophoresis. Hope this helps. Wish you good health