Table 1 Laboratory-orientated etiologies of anemia

Anemia of chronic disease

Serum ferritin > 100 μg/L and at least one of the following transferrin ≤3.60 g/L or iron < 14 (male) / < 10 (female) μmol/L

Renal anemia

Estimated glomerular filtration rate < 45 mL/min/1.73m²

Iron deficiency anemia

Serum ferritin < 25 (male) or < 20 (female) μg/L

Hemoglobinopathy

Hemoglobin electrophoresis was conducted in case of low MCV (< 80 fl) in combination with increased erythrocyte count (> 6.2 (male) or > 5.4 (female) μl) (and followed by genetic testing).

Suspected hemolysis

Lactate dehydrogenase > 241 U/L and reticulocytes > 2.5%

Suspected bone marrow disease

Reticulocytes < 2.5% and leukocyte count < 4.3 or > 10 10⁹/L and thrombocyte count < 150 / > 390 10⁹/L

Vitamin B12 deficiency

Serum vitamin B12 < 130 pmol/L

Folic acid deficiency

Serum folic acid < 5 nmol/L

Multiple causes

Satisfied more than one of the above definitions

Uncertain

Satisfied none of the above definitions