Does a blood test test for anemia?

Warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia is caused by autoimmune attack against red blood cells, primarily by IgG. It is the most common of the autoimmune hemolytic diseases. 20 It can be idiopathic, that is, without any known cause, drug-associated or secondary to another disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus, or a malignancy, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Cold agglutinin hemolytic anemia is primarily mediated by IgM. It can be idiopathic22 or result from an underlying condition. General causes of hypervolemia include excessive sodium or fluid intake, sodium or water retention and fluid shift into the intravascular space.

Anemia of pregnancy is induced by blood volume expansion experienced in pregnancy. Treatments for anemia depend on severity and cause. Iron deficiency from nutritional causes is rare in men and postmenopausal women.

The diagnosis of iron deficiency mandates a search for potential sources of loss, such as gastrointestinal bleeding from ulcers or colon cancer. Mild to moderate iron-deficiency anemia is treated by oral iron supplementation with ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate, or ferrous gluconate. When taking iron supplements, stomach upset and/or darkening of the feces are commonly experienced.

The stomach upset can be alleviated by taking the iron with food; however, this decreases the amount of iron absorbed.