Anemia of inflammation - PubMed (original) (raw)

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Anemia of inflammation

Elizabeta Nemeth et al. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2014 Aug.

Abstract

Anemia of inflammation (AI, also called anemia of chronic disease) is a common, typically normocytic, normochromic anemia that is caused by an underlying inflammatory disease. It is diagnosed when serum iron concentrations are low despite adequate iron stores, as evidenced by serum ferritin that is not low. In the setting of inflammation, it may be difficult to differentiate AI from iron deficiency anemia, and the 2 conditions may coexist. Treatment should focus on the underlying disease. Recent advances in molecular understanding of AI are stimulating the development of new pathophysiologically targeted experimental therapies.

Keywords: Anemia of chronic disease; Cytokines; Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents; Ferroportin; Hepcidin.

Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

The pathogenesis of AI is mediated by inflammatory cytokines and hepcidin, acting together to suppress erythropoiesis and shorten erythrocyte survival in blood. The effects of cytokines are denoted in light green, hepcidin effects are depicted in orange, and combined effects in red.

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