The diagnostic accuracy of the percentage of hypochromic red blood cells (%HYPOm) and cellular hemoglobin in reticulocytes (CHr) in differentiating iron deficiency anemia and anemia of chronic diseases

IDA and ACD patients were efficiently differentiated by using %HYPOm and CHr. Additionally, %HYPOm was higher and CHr was lower in IDA patients and in ACD patients than in controls. Thus, %HYPOm is higher and CHr is lower not only in absolute iron deficiency, but also when iron availability for erythropoiesis is restricted.