5.7.3
Anaemia of Chronic Disease
Malawi Standard Treatment Guidelines, 6th Edition, 2023. Chapter 5, Blood and Haematology.
Clinical Description
Anaemia due to chronic inflammation. It is characteristically a normochromic, normocytic anaemia but can also be microcytic.
- Common causes of anaemia of chronic disorder include:
- Malignancy ( e.g. Haematological or solid tumours),
- Autoimmune disorders ( e.g. Rheumatoid arthritis,SLE)
- Acute or chronic infections, e.g. HIV and TB
- Chronic kidney disease
Signs and Symptoms
- Pallor and signs of underlying condition
Investigations
- Full blood count, Specific tests to exclude causes , HIV test, Urea, Electrolytes and Creatinine, ESR, Sputum for GeneXpert, Chest Xray
Treatment
- Treat the underlying condition.
- Transfusion is seldom necessary.
- Do not treat with iron, folic acid or vitamin B12 unless there is a documented deficiency.
Complications and Referral Criteria
- Patients not responding to treatment
- Patients requiring further work up and treatment at tertiary centre
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