title: [Differential diagnosis of anemia].
abstract: Anemia is often encountered in clinical practice. It has to be noted that anemia is only a symptom of an underlying disease. Early, correct and consequent diagnosis is crucial in order to prevent late detection of fatal disease or to prescribe contraindicated therapy. The combined use of a morphologic and physiologic classification allows for understanding and correct classification of anemia in a specific patient. In this respect, the determination of reticulocyte counts is of special importance. Further targeted biochemical, morphological and immunological analysis leads to the definitive diagnosis of anemia. A large proportion of the anemias can be diagnosed and treated by the general practitioner. However, involvement of a haematologist is recommended in several clinical situations, such as newly diagnosed haemolytic anemia, as well as in patients with complex, equivocal or therapy-refractory anemia or certain normocytic hyporegenerative anemias. This paper presents a differentiated stepwise approach in diagnosing anemic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Interne Medizin, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus, Feldkirch.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Risch
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herklotz
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Huber
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D005194:Family Practice; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012156:Reticulocytes