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The anemia of chronic inflammation (ACI) is one of the major causes of hypoproliferative anemia in man. ACI can be associated with inflammation of any type (Table 4.1). In each case, the associations represent a form of inflammation and cytokine release, whether infectious or not. Even with simple tissue injury, such as myocardial infarction or surgery, there is an inflammatory response in the process of wound repair. There are four major mechanisms that contribute to the anemia of chronic inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron deficiency, and particularly iron deficiency as a cause of anemia, is one of the commonest nutritional deficiencies in man. According to the NHANES studies of 1999-2000, there was a 4% incidence of iron deficiency and a 2% incidence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in males over the age of 70 (1). In females of a comparable age, it was estimated that 7% were iron deficient and 2% actually had IDA. Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in both developed and underdeveloped countries and, worldwide, nearly one-half billion individuals suffer from iron deficiency. [An excellent review of iron metabolism in man can be found in (2); and an in-depth overview of all aspects of iron metabolism can be found in (3).] It is important to recognize iron deficiency since iron deficiency interferes with learning in children and cognition in adults. In the pregnant woman, iron deficiency can lead to low birth weight infants. Importantly, in the elderly, iron deficiency is frequently a sign of underlying pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]