Fhea 2024 exam - Study guides, Class notes & Summaries

The mean cell volume (MCV) of 66 fL indicates microcytic anemia (normal MCV=80-96 fL). Iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia are the two most common microcytic anemias encountered in primary care and represent the leading differential diagnoses. Iron deficiency is most commonly a consequence of slow, steady blood loss and resulting depletion of iron, whereas thalassemia is a genetic disorder and not related to iron or any micronutrient deficiency. The normal red blood cell distribution wid...