Abdul Mannan: 240 Flashcards on Acquired Underproduction Anemias
Abdul Mannan, Consultant Hematologist at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, shared a post on LinkedIn:
”240 flashcards on acquired underproduction anemias.
Because this topic trips up more trainees than it should.
Iron deficiency is the most common anemia worldwide. Yet how many of us can confidently work through the differential when the MCV is low, the ferritin is 40, and the patient has inflammation?
These 240 cards break down the three major categories:
Iron deficiency:
- Why dietary insufficiency matters in children but GI blood loss dominates in men
- When ferritin <15 μg/L is diagnostic, and when you need a higher threshold
- Oral vs IV iron: when to switch and why adherence matters more than the route
- The three reasons oral iron fails (dose, compliance, or you missed the source)
Cobalamin (B12) deficiency:
- Pernicious anemia is absorption failure, not dietary
- Why you must check methylmalonic acid AND homocysteine (both elevated in B12, only homocysteine in folate)
- Neuropsychiatric symptoms are the red flag. Rule out B12 before starting folate
- When oral B12 works and when you need IM or parenteral
Folate deficiency:
- Decreased dietary intake is the usual culprit
- How to spot it: low folate, high homocysteine, NORMAL methylmalonic acid
- Why patients with chronic hemolysis need daily folate supplementation
Every card tests the way exams test you. Lab values. Clinical vignettes. Treatment decisions.
I built these because reading the chapter twice doesn’t stick. Testing yourself 240 times does.
Whether you’re preparing for your examination, or just want to be sharper at the MDT, these cards will help.”
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