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Table 1 Definitions of the different causes found in the macrocytic cohort

From: Prevalence of potential underlying aetiology of macrocytic anaemia in Dutch general practice

Cause

Definition

1) Vitamin B12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 < 130 pmol/L

2) Folic acid deficiency

Folic acid < 5 nmol/L

3) Possible bone marrow disease

Abnormal number leukocytes and thrombocytes

Reticulocytes < 2.5 %

4) Haemolysis

Raised LDH, reticulocytes > 2.5 %, bilirubin > 17 μmol/L

5) Documented alcohol abuse

Documented in patient file by treating physician

6) Anaemia of chronic disease (ACD)

Ferritin > 100 μg/L, serum transferrin < 2.0 g/L and/or serum iron < 14 μmol/L (men), < 10 μmol/L (women)

7) Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA)

Ferritin < 25 μg/L (men), < 20 μg/L (women)

8) Renal anaemia

Estimated creatinine clearance (MDRD) ≤ 45 mL/min/1.73 m2 (8)

9) Other

Documented in patient file by treating physician

10) Unknown

No cause could be determined

  1. These cut-off values were derived from the reference intervals used in the Clinical Chemistry laboratory of the Albert Schweitzer Hospital where all tests were conducted