Differential Diagnosis of Microcytic Anemia

• iron deficiency from inadequate intake?

• iron deficiency from increased blood loss?

• iron deficiency from malabsorption (celiac disease, Crohn's disease, etc)?

• a hereditary defect in iron transport or utilization (atransferrinemia, other)?

• an autoantibody against the transferrin receptor?

• alpha or beta thalassemia?

• sickle-thalassemia?

• hemoglobin E?

• anemia of chronic disease?

• X-linked hereditary sideroblastic anemia?

• autosomal recessive hereditary sideroblastic anemia?

• hereditary sideroblastic anemia affecting mitochondrial DNA?

• myelodysplasia (with or without sideroblasts)?

• therapy-related myeloid neoplasms?

• Castleman's disease?

• lead poisoning?

• arsenic poisoning?

• aluminum poisoning?

• copper deficiency?

• alcohol?

• drugs such as isoniazid (INH), chloramphenicol, cycloserine, penicillamine, or azathioprine?

• Pearson's marrow-pancreas syndrome?