| The mild to moderate anemia that often
observed in patients with infectious, inflammatory, or
neoplastic diseases that persist for more than 1 or 2
months is called anemia of chronic disease. The
characteristics feature of this syndrome is the
occurrence of hypoferremia in the presence of ample
reticuloendothelial iron stores. The anemia of chronic
disorders is define by the presence of this unique
combination of findings.
The anemia of chronic disorders is extremely common, and
overall is probably more common than any anemia syndrome
other than blood loss with consequent iron deficiency. In
a study by cash and Sears, 1986, 52% of anemic patients
met laboratory criteria for anemia of chronic disorders.
The syndrome is also observed in 27% of outpatients with
rheumatoid arthritis and in 58% of new admissions to
hospital rheumatology units.
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