title: Prevalence of hypochromia (without microcytosis) vs microcytosis (without hypochromia) in iron deficiency.
abstract: The usefulness of hypochromia (MCH <or = 26 pg) and microcytosis (MCV < or = 80 fl) as indicators of iron deficiency was examined in 365 geriatric patients aged 67-96 years with either one or both or these characteristics. Of these, 201 proved to be iron deficient with a serum ferritin of 18 microg/l. There was a highly significant difference (P < 0.001) between the proportion of iron deficient patients with a mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) < 26 pg (in the presence of a mean corpuscular volume (MCV) > or = 80 (fl) vs. counterparts with MCV < 80 fl (in the presence of MCH > or = 26 pg). Fifteen per cent of the 201 iron deficient subjects were also shown to have coexisting vitamin B12 deficiency. There was a comparable (16%) prevalence of this haematinic deficiency in the subgroup of 31 iron deficient patients with MCH < 26 pg in the presence of MCH > or = 80 fl.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine for the Elderly, Tameside General Hospital, Ashton-Under-Lyne, UK.
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Jolobe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices / Q000502:physiology*; D004913:Erythrocytes, Abnormal; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006454:Hemoglobins; D005293:Ferritins; D005492:Folic Acid