Anemia of chronic disease

[Michiko]

In anemia of chronic disease, inflammation caused by a chronic disorder slows the production of red blood cells and sometimes decreases survival of red blood cells.
(See also Overview of Anemia.)
A chronic disease is one that lasts for 3 months or longer. Worldwide, anemia of chronic disease is the second most common type of anemia.
Chronic disease often leads to anemia, especially in older adults. Conditions such as infections, autoimmune disorders (especially rheumatoid arthritis), kidney disorders, and cancer most often cause anemia of chronic disease. There are three ways that chronic disease may cause anemia:

Suppression of the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow
Decrease in the lifespan of red blood cells
Problems with how the body uses iron

Suppression of red blood cell production is usually not severe, so anemia develops slowly and is evident only after time.
When there is a problem with how the body uses iron, the bone marrow is unable to use stored iron to create new red blood cells.
Because the anemia of chronic disease develops slowly and is generally mild, it usually causes few or no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they usually result from the disease causing the anemia rather than from the anemia itself.