Microcytic anemia happens when your red blood cells are smaller than usual because they don’t have enough hemoglobin. The most common cause is an iron deficiency.

Apr 7, 2025 · Several different types of anemias can be described as microcytic. Keep reading to learn about the symptoms, types, and causes of microcytic anemia and how doctors treat it.

Mar 3, 2025 · Microcytosis is a descriptive term for red blood cell (RBC) size smaller than the normal (or reference) range. The causes are numerous, and the evaluation depends on a synthesis of clinical …

Aug 28, 2025 · Microcytic anemia occurs when a lack of hemoglobin leads to smaller red blood cells that deliver less oxygen throughout the body. Causes can include nutritional deficiencies, chronic illness, …

The main causes of microcytic anemia are iron-deficiency, lead poisoning, thalassemia, and anemia of chronic disease. In microcytic anemia, the red blood cells (erythrocytes) contain less hemoglobin and …

Jan 13, 2026 · Microcytic anemia is a common type of anemia characterized by the presence of smaller-than-normal red blood cells (RBCs) in the bloodstream. This condition is significant because it can …

Microcytic anemia describes the size of red blood cells, not the cause of the anemia. In this pattern, red blood cells are smaller than usual, but why they are small matters more than the label itself.

Microcytic anemia is defined as the presence of small, often hypochromic, red blood cells in a peripheral blood smear and is usually characterized by a low MCV (less than 83 micron 3).

Nov 1, 2010 · The most common causes of microcytosis are iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia trait. Other diagnoses to consider include anemia of chronic disease, lead toxicity, and sideroblastic...

Microcytic anemia is defined as anemia with a mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of less than 80 mcm3 in adults. Age-specific parameters should be used for patients younger than 17 years.