ABSTRACT
Diagnosis of anaemia must identify the precise cause (Table 25.1). It is important to remember iron deficiency, thalassaemia, and (rarely) inherited sideroblastic anaemia as causes of hypochromic, microcytic anaemia. Megaloblastic anaemia (deficiency of vitamin B12, folic acid or both), liver disease, hypothyroidism, marrow aplasia, haemolysis, alcoholism, and myelodysplasia causes of macrocytic anaemia.
