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Omar Adwan: Patterns of Anemia
Omar Adwan/LinkedIn
Apr 14, 2026, 15:54

Omar Adwan: Patterns of Anemia

Omar Adwan, Medical Laboratory Technologist at Modawah lab center, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Patterns of Anemia

Can Be Classified into

  • Major Categories

Patterns Based on MCV (Red Blood Cell Size)

Microcytic Anemia (MCV < 80 fL)

  • Typically associated with impaired hemoglobin synthesis.

Common Causes:

  1. Iron deficiency anemia
  2. Thalassemia
  3. Anemia of chronic disease (some cases)
  4. Sideroblastic anemia

Smear Pattern:

  1. Target cells
  2. Aniso
  3. Poikilocytosis

Normocytic Anemia (MCV 80–100 fL)

  • Generally results from blood loss or bone marrow disorders.

Common Causes:

  1. Acute blood loss
  2. Hemolytic anemia
  3. Aplastic anemia (early stage)
  4. Chronic kidney disease

Smear Pattern:

  • Normal MCV with variable reticulocyte count depending on etiology

Macrocytic Anemia (MCV > 100 fL)

  • Usually due to impaired DNA synthesis.

Common Causes:

  1. Megaloblastic anemia (Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency)
  2. Liver disease
  3. Alcoholism
  4. Hypothyroidism

Smear Pattern:

  • Macro-ovalocytes
  • Hypersegmented neutrophils

Patterns Based on Etiology

  • Defective Production
  1. Iron deficiency
  2. Thalassemia
  3. Aplastic anemia
  4. Anemia of chronic disease
  • Increased Destruction (Hemolytic)
  1. Hereditary spherocytosis
  2. G6PD deficiency
  3. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
  • Blood Loss
  1. Acute trauma
  2. Gastrointestinal bleeding
  3. Severe menstruation

Patterns Based on Blood Smear (Morphology)

Morphology Pattern Associated Diseases

  • Target cells: Thalassemia, liver disease
  • Microcytes: Iron deficiency
  • Spherocytes: Hemolysis
  • Schistocytes: DIC, TTP, HUS
  • Teardrop cells: Myelofibrosis
  • Pencil cells: Iron deficiency
  • Burr cells: Uremia
  • Oval Macrocytes Vitamin B12/Folate deficiency

Patterns Based on Reticulocyte Count

  • High Reticulocyte Count (Reticulocytosis) indicates hemolysis or acute blood loss
  • Low Reticulocyte Count indicates bone marrow failure or nutritional anemia

Easy Memory Clues

  • Micro means hemoglobin synthesis defect
  • Normo means blood loss or increased destruction
  • Macro means DNA synthesis defect.”

Omar Adwan: Patterns of Anemia

Other posts featuring Omar Adwan on Hemostasis Today.

Folate Deficiency Gastrointestinal Bleeding Health Hematology Hemostasis Hemostasis News Hemostasis Today Iron-Deficiency Macrocytic Anemia MCV Medicine Microcytic Anemia normocytic anemia Omar Adwan Thalassemia
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