See Also: Anemia(health)
anemia(dictionary)
Anemia(law)
anemia(encyclopedia)
anemia(medicine)
Anemia, congenital(health)
Anemia, pernicious(health)
Anemia, refractory(health)
Addisonian anemia(health)
Aplastic anemia(health)

Anemia (health)


Anemia is a condition in which a deficiency in the size or number of erythrocytes (red blood cells) or the amount of hemoglobin they contain limits the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and the tissue cells. Most anemias are caused by a lack of nutrients required for normal erythrocyte synthesis, principally iron, vitamin B-12, and folic acid. Others result from a variety of conditions, such as hemorrhage, genetic abnormalities, chronic disease states or drug toxicity.