HAEMATINICS

Anemia of Chronic Disease

Introduction
Anemia of Chronic Disease (ACD) is a condition of impaired iron utilization where functional iron (hemoglobin) is low but tissue iron (such as in storage) is normal or high. ACD is seen in a wide range of chronic malignant, autoimmune, leukemic, inflammatory, and infectious disease conditions.

In rheumatoid arthritis there is frequently co-existence of ACD and iron deficiency anemia resulting from gastrointestinal bleeding due to drug therapy. ACD, also known as hypoferremia of inflammatory disease and anemia of inflammation, is often diagnosed as mild iron deficiency anemia.

Risk Group: The elderly are among the highest risk group for anemia of chronic disease, but anyone regardless of age who has chronic inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or infection can be at risk.