Diagnosis
Ringed sideroblasts are seen in the bone marrow.
The anemia is moderate to severe and dimorphic with marked anisocytosis and poikilocytosis. Basophilic stippling is marked and target cells are common. Pappenheimer bodies are present. The MCV is decreased (i.e., a microcytic anemia). The RDW is increased with the red blood cell histogram shifted to the left. Leukocytes and platelets are normal. Bone marrow shows erythroid hyperplasia with a maturation arrest.
In excess of 40% of the developing erythrocytes are ringed sideroblasts. Serum iron, percentage saturation and ferritin are increased. The TIBC is normal to decreased. Stainable marrow hemosiderin is increased.
Read more about this topic: Sideroblastic Anemia