Normocytic Anaemia

CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC MANUAL

Normocytic anaemia is characterised by the presence of red blood cells of normal size (normocytes) with a reduced haemoglobin concentration, but without alterations in cell size. This type of anaemia is generally related to decreased red blood cell production or acute blood loss and is often associated with chronic diseases, renal failure, or bone marrow disorders.

Pathology	Clinical Symptoms and Signs	Suspected Diagnosis	Confirmatory Diagnosis
Anaemia of chronic disease	Fatigue, weakness, pallor, shortness of breath, palpitations	History of chronic disease (inflammation, infections)	Full blood count (FBC), normal MCV, elevated ferritin, low serum iron, elevated CRP
Chronic renal failure	Fatigue, weakness, pallor, shortness of breath, hypertension, oedema	History of chronic renal disease	FBC, elevated urea and creatinine levels, low erythropoietin levels
Aplastic anaemia	Fatigue, weakness, pallor, recurrent infections, tendency to bleed	History of exposure to toxins or medications, pancytopenia	FBC, bone marrow biopsy
Haemolytic anaemia	Fatigue, weakness, pallor, jaundice, splenomegaly	History of haemolytic anaemia, jaundice	FBC, low haptoglobin, elevated LDH, elevated indirect bilirubin, positive Coombs test
Acute blood loss	Fatigue, dizziness, pallor, hypotension, tachycardia	History of trauma, surgery, or recent haemorrhage	FBC, low haemoglobin and haematocrit, clinical evaluation of the cause of haemorrhage