Characteristics of haemogram, serum iron, and ferritin levels in patients with hypochromic microcytic anemia

Background: Hypochromic microcytic anemia (HMA) is a prevalent and serious condition if left untreated. Haemograms, serum iron, and ferritin tests play crucial roles in diagnosis and in guiding the identification of underlying causes. This study was conducted with the objective of describing the haemogram characteristics and assessing serum iron and ferritin levels in patients with hypochromic microcytic anemia.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 62 patients with hypochromic microcytic anemia who visited and were treated at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital from March 2024 to July 2024.Results: The erythrocyte indices in the iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) group were as follows: RBC 4.0 ± 0.7 T/L, HGB 77.8 ± 15.7 g/L, MCV 67.7 ± 7.2 fL, MCH 19.3 ± 3.1 pg, RDW 18.8 ± 2.7 %. In the hemoglobinopathy group: RBC 4.8 ± 0.5 T/L, HGB 90.6 ± 8.3 g/L, MCV 61.9 ± 4.7 fL, MCH 18.8 ± 1.1 pg, RDW 19.2 ± 4.3 %. In the chronic inflammation/disease group: RBC 3.8 ± 1.1 T/L, HGB 85.1 ± 20.2 g/L, MCV 72.2 ± 6.6 fL, MCH 22.4 ± 2.5 pg, and RDW 16.3 ± 2.2 %. Erythrocyte morphology included various shapes such as ring-shaped (85.5%), pencil-shaped (22.6%), target-shaped (17.7%), teardrop-shaped (14.5%), and stomatocyte (14.5%). The average serum iron level of the iron-deficiency anemia, hemoglobinopathy, and chronic inflammation/disease groups was 3.3 ± 1.3 µmol/L, 15.9 ± 7.5 µmol/L, and 8.2 ± 6.4 µmol/L, respectively. The average serum ferritin level of the iron-deficiency anemia, hemoglobinopathy, and chronic inflammation/disease group was 7.6 ± 4.4 pmol/L, 408.1 ± 202.0 pmol/L, and 204.1 ± 145.9 pmol/L, respectively.Conclusion: Hypochromic microcytic anemia is characterized by decreased RBC, HGB, MCV, and MCH, along with increased RDW. Ring-shaped erythrocytes were the most commonly observed morphology. Serum iron and ferritin levels varied depending on the underlying cause.