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Table 20-1

Classification of Anemia by Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)a

Microcytic (MCV <80 fL)Normocytic (MCV 80-100 fL)Macrocytic (MCV >100 fL)

  • Iron deficiency

  • Thalassemias

  • Anemia of chronic disease (late)

  • Sideroblastic anemia

  • Lead poisoning

  • Copper deficiency

  • Early iron deficiency

  • Acute blood loss

  • Sickle cell disease

  • Anemia of chronic disease

  • Infection (osteomyelitis, HIV, mycoplasma, EBV)

  • Bone marrow disease

  • Chronic renal insufficiency

  • Hypothyroidism

  • Autoimmune hemolytic anemia

  • Vitamin B12 deficiency

  • Folic acid deficiency

  • Drug induced (zidovudine)

  • Ethanol abuse

  • Liver disease

  • Myelodysplastic syndromes

Abbreviations: EBV, Epstein-Barr virus; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus.


aAdapted from American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Practice Bulletins—Obstetrics. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 95: anemia in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2008;112:201-207. (Reaffirmed 2017)