Jerry L. Spivak, MD

It is somewhat ironic (no pun intended) that a review whose title, “Iron and the Anemia of Chronic Disease,” suggests content more appropriate to a hematology journal than one devoted to oncology, has been found to have lasting value by practicing oncologists.

The anemia of chronic disease traditionally is defined as a hypoproliferative anemia of no apparent cause that occurs in association with an inflammatory, infectious, or neoplastic disorder, and resolves when the underlying disorder is corrected. Disordered iron metabolism as manifested by a low serum iron, decreased serum transferrin, decreased transferrin saturation, increased serum ferritin, increased reticuloendothelial iron stores, increased erythrocyte-free protoporphyrin, and reduced iron absorption, is a characteristic feature of the anemia of chronic disease and has been thought to be a major factor contributing to the syndrome.