CLASSIFICATION OF

ANEMIA
By-AKANKSHA D SRIVASTAVA.
ANEMIA IS CLASSIFIED BY TWO
METHODS-
 Morphological  Etiological
classification classification
 Morphological classification-
• Morphologically classification depends upon
the size of RBC .Size of RBC is determined by
mean corpuscular volume(MCV).Color is
determined by mean corpuscular
hemoglobin content(MCHC).By this method
the anemia is classified into four types:
1. NORMOCYTIC NORMOCHROMIC
ANEMIA
 Thesize(MCV) and color(MCHC) of RBC are
normal.But the number of RBC is less.
2.MACROCYTIC NORMOCHROMIC
ANEMIA
 TheRBC are larger in size with normal
color.The RBC count is less.
3.MACROCYTIC HYPOCHROMIC
ANEMIA
 The RBCs are larger in size.MCHC is less so
 the cells are pale.
4.MICROCYTIC HYPOCHROMIC
ANEMIA
 RBCs are smaller in with less color.
ETIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF
ANEMIA

On the basis of
etiology anemia is
classified into five
types:
1-HEMORRHAGIC ANEMIA
a. Hemorrhage refers to excessive loss of blood. Anemia
due to excessive loss of blood is known as hemorrhagic
anemia. ACUTE HEMORRHAGE-It refers to sudden loss
of blood as in case of accident. So with less number of
RBC hemodilution occurs. Morphologically the RBCs
are normocytic and normochromic. CHRONIC
HEMORRHAGE-It refers to loss of blood by internal or
external bleeding over along period of time . Due to
continuous loss of blood lot of iron is lost from body
causing iron deficiency which affects synthesis of
hemoglobin .The cells also becomes small .Hence the
RBCs are microcytic and hypochromic
2-HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA
 Anemia due to excessive hemolysis which is not compensated by
increased RBC production is called hemolytic anemia. It is of two
types.(a)Extrinsic hemolytic anemia-The healthy RBCs are
hemolized by factors outside blood such as antibodies,
chemicals, and drugs such as penicillin,antimalarial drugs
etc.The common causes are liver failure, renal
disorder,burns,infections such as hepatitis, malaria, presence of
isogglutinins such as anti rh ,autoimmune diseases such as
rheumatoid arthritis, poisoning by chemical substances like lead,
coal tar etc(b)Intrinsic hemolytic anemia-there is production of
unhealthy RBCs which are short lived and destroyed soon.
Intrinsic hemolytic anemia is often inherited and it includes sickle
cell anemia and thalassemia. Because of abnormal shape in sickle
cell anemia and thalassemia, the RBCs become more fragile and
susceptible for hemolysis.
3- NUTRITION DEFICIENCY ANEMIA
 Anemia that occurs due to deficiency of a
nutritive substance necessary for
erythropoiesis is called nutrition deficiency
anemia. The substances necessary for
erythropoesis are iron, protein and vitamins
like C,B-12 and folic acid. The types of
nutrition deficiency anemia are iron
deficiency anemia, protein deficiency anemia,
pernicious anemia,megaloblastic anemia.
4-APASTIC ANEMIA
 Aplastic anemia is due to the disorder of red
bone marrow. The red bone marrow is
reduced and replaced by fatty tissues .In
apastic anemia the RBCs are normocytic and
normochromic.
5-ANEMIA OF CHRONIC DISEASES
 Anemia of chronic diseases is second most
common type of anemia. It is characterized by
short life span of RBCs caused by disturbance in
iron metabolism or resistance to erythropoietin
action. Common causes are non inflammatory
diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis ,chronic
infections like tuberculosis, chronic renal
failure, neoplastic disorders such as Hodgkin’s
disease and cancer of lung and breast. The red
blood cells are generally normocytic and
normochromic in this type of disease
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