ASSIGNMENT ON HEMATOLOGICAL COMPLAINS.

Running head: HEMATOLOGICAL COMPLAINS 1
Hematological Complains
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

HEMATOLOGICAL COMPLAINS 2
Hematological Complains
Anemia refers to a condition whereby an individual’s number of red blood cells is low.
Such a person is regarded as anemic. Primarily, there are three types of anemia, depending on the
nature of the condition. Firstly, there exists microcytic anemia whereby the red blood cells are
smaller than normal (Siamak, and Nabili, 2019). This condition is caused by inherited disorders
of hemoglobin or iron deficiency. Secondly, there exists normocytic anemia, which involves the
normal size of red blood cells but low in number. Such anemia occurs as a result of infection by
chronic diseases such as kidney disease. Finally, there exists macrocytic anemia, whereby the
size of the red blood cells is larger than normal. This type of anemia is caused by anemia related
to alcoholism or pernicious anemia.
Laboratory studies involved in the microcytic anemia starts with diagnosing the cause of
the condition. The diagnosis begins with checking the ferritin level. A chronic inflammation
accompanied by a low ferritin level (bellow 50mcg per liter) is an indication of iron deficiency
anemia (Van, 2010). On the other hand, normal to high ferritin level calls for checking the serum
iron level, transferrin saturation, and TIBC. An increased TIBC, decreased serum iron level, and
decreased transferrin saturation is an indication of iron deficiency anemia. Decreased TIBC,
serum iron level, and transferrin saturation signify anemia of chronic disease. A normal to
increased serum iron level, TIBC, and transferrin saturation calls for the performance of
hemoglobin electrophoresis (Van, 2010). A normal hemoglobin A2 level signifies an alpha-
thalassemia trait. An increased hemoglobin A2 level reveals the presence of beta-thalassemia
trait. The figure below illustrates the outlook of the laboratory studies for microcytic anemia.