Treatment should be directed at the cause of the anemia, and may include:
- Blood transfusions
- Corticosteroids or other medicines that suppress the immune system
- Erythropoietin, a medicine that helps your bone marrow make more blood cells
- Supplements of iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, or other vitamins and minerals
Support Groups
Expectations (prognosis)
The outlook depends on the cause.
Complications
Severe anemia can cause low oxygen levels in vital organs such as the heart, and can lead to a
Calling your health care provider
Call your health provider if you have any symptoms of anemia, or any unusual bleeding.
Images
Red blood cells, elliptocytosis
Hemoglobin
Red blood cells, target cells
Red blood cells, sickle cell
Red blood cells, multiple sickle cells
Ovalocytoses
Red blood cells, sickle and pappenheimer
Red blood cells, spherocytosis
Review Date: 02/28/2011
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and Yi-Bin
Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts
General Hospital.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
