Normocytic anemia

Anemia is a common problem that is often discovered on routine laboratory t ests. Its prevalence increases with age, reaching 44 percent in men older t han 85 years. Normocytic anemia is the most frequently encountered type of anemia. Anemia of chronic disease, the most common normocytic anemia, is fo und in 6 percent of adult patients hospitalized by family physicians. The g oals of evaluation and management are to make an accurate and efficient dia gnosis, avoid unnecessary testing, correct underlying treatable causes and ameliorate symptoms when necessary. The evaluation begins with a thorough h istory and a careful physical examination. Basic diagnostic studies include the red blood cell distribution width, corrected reticulocyte index and pe ripheral blood smear; further testing is guided by the results of these stu dies. Treatment should be directed at correcting the underlying cause of th e anemia. A recent advance in treatment is the use of recombinant human ery thropoietin.