Why rheumatoid arthritis causes anemia

Anemia of chronic disease is a prevalent, poorly understood condition that presents with a normocytic and normochromic or occasionally microcytic and hypochromic blood picture.

It tends to be mild and is overshadowed by the basic disease. It does not usually progress in severity, and the reticulocyte count is not elevated in most cases.

Defective macrophage iron retention may also contribute to this type of anemia by interrupting iron delivery to the erythroid precursor cells. Furthermore, ACD may be precipitated by impaired iron utilization in which the functional iron levels are low, but the tissue iron levels are normal or high.

It is also now clear[ 8 ] that inflammatory cytokines released during ACD can alter systemic iron metabolism by inducing the excess synthesis of hepcidin, the iron regulatory hormone. Since hepcidin inhibits iron exportation from cells by blocking ferroportin activity, the root cause of the hypoferremia and iron-restricted erythropoiesis in ACD can be attributed to the excess hepcidin levels. The differential diagnosis of anemia in patients with RA should be based on the serum iron and ferritin levels as well as the presence or absence of relative EPO deficiency.

We believe that our findings can help definitively diagnose the type of anemia in patients with RA and provide them with the necessary treatment to improve their quality of health quality, thereby decreasing disease activity.

This damage can make the body less able to digest iron, which can lead to anemia. Some people with rheumatoid arthritis may take medications to suppress the immune system, such as azathioprine or cyclophosphamide. A side effect of this type of medication is reduced bone marrow production, and it is the bone marrow that produces red blood cells. Rheumatoid arthritis may result in the reduced lifespan of red blood cells.

This could lead to anemia if the body is unable to produce new red blood cells at a sufficient rate. Understanding these links between rheumatoid arthritis and anemia is crucial. Doctors must know the underlying cause of anemia to recommend suitable treatments. When a person has mild anemia, they may feel normal. However, if their blood count starts to get too low and leads to a reduced ability to transport oxygen through the body, they are likely to experience symptoms.

A person with rheumatoid arthritis may think that their anemia symptoms are due to their arthritis. This is especially true for weakness and tiredness, which both conditions can cause. If the doctor suspects anemia, they are likely to recommend blood tests. As well as measuring hemoglobin and red blood cell levels, the doctor will also order tests to measure the levels of certain chemicals in the blood. These include:. This information can help a doctor understand why a person might have anemia, as well as which type of anemia they may have.

Using medication to manage the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can often help with anemia in turn. Examples of these medications include disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs DMARDs or steroids, such as prednisone. These drugs are highly specific and targeted to affect immune system function.

Hepcidin, a peptide produced in the liver and immunocompetent cells, impairs the expression of ferroportin on iron-secreting cells, thus reducing iron bioavailability. The typical changes of iron metabolism and hepcidin synthesis in RA are induced by proinflammatory cytokines, primarily interleukin Reducing inflammation in the body can help alleviate both joint symptoms and anemia, and improve your overall well-being.

If you have low iron levels contributing to your anemia, your doctor may suggest taking iron supplements and making changes to your diet. In some cases, adjustments may be made to your RA meds. If you suspect you have anemia, talk to your doctor, who can determine the safest steps for you.

If symptoms of anemia become severe, your doctor may consider doing a blood transfusion or injections of a synthetic hormone called erythropoietin, which may help stimulate red blood cell production. Treating anemia is critical to not only help you feel better from symptoms like fatigue, but also to prevent serious health complications, such as heart problems like an irregular heartbeat or heart failure. CreakyJoints is a digital community for millions of arthritis patients and caregivers worldwide who seek education, support, advocacy, and patient-centered research.

We present patients through our popular social media channels, our website CreakyJoints. We represent patients through our popular social media channels, our website CreakyJoints. Only fill in if you are not human. Comorbid Conditions. There are many different forms of anemia and each has its own cause. Getting inflammation under control with medication is the best way to treat this kind of anemia.

Iron Deficiency Anemia Iron deficiency anemia — the most common type of anemia — also occurs in people with inflammatory arthritis. What Are the Symptoms of Anemia?