Anemia of chronic disease

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Blood cells

Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. There are many types of anemia.

Anemia of chronic disease is a blood disorder that refers to anemia that is found in people with certain long-term (chronic) medical conditions.

See also: Anemia

Anemia of inflammation

Anemia is a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells in the blood. Certain chronic infections, inflammatory diseases, and other illnesses can affect the body's ability to produce red blood cells.

Conditions that can lead to anemia of chronic disease include:

• Autoimmune disorders, such as crohn's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis
• Cancer, particularly lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease
• Chronic kidney disease
• Liver cirrhosis
• Long-term infections, such as bacterial endocarditis, osteomyelitis (bone infection), HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B or hepatitis C

Review Date: 02/28/2011
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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