Multivariable Discriminant Analysis for the Differential Diagnosis of Microcytic Anemia

Table 1

Hematological and biochemical data for the study patients comprised 170 with iron deficiency anemia (IDA), 200 β-thalassemia carriers, 65 α-thalassemia carriers, and 45 mixed clinical situations (hemoglobinopathy and other disease, iron deficiency, or pregnancy). Values are reported as mean (standard deviation).

	Mixed^a	β-thalassemia^b	IDA^c	α-thalassemia^d	𝑃 value
RBC, 10^12/L	5.70	5.79	4.72	5.40	<0.001
	(0.57)^c,d	(0.54)^c,d	(0.48)^all	(0.55)^all
Hb, g/L	116	119	105	123	<0.001
	(13.2)^d	(11.2)^d	(11.0)^c,d	(14.0)^all
MCV, fL	64.6	64.6	73.7	70.5	<0.001
	(4.08)^c,d	(3.39)^c,d	(4.63)^all	(2.96)^all
MCH, pg	20.4	20.6	22.3	22.7	<0.001
	(1.48)^c,d	(1.11)^c,d	(1.86)^a,b	(1.08)^a,b
RDW, %	16.9	16.1	18.2	15.9	<0.001
	(1.84)^c	(1.06)^c	(3.03)^all	(1.51)^c

RBC: Red Blood Cells; Hb: hemoglobin; MCV: mean cell volume; MCH: mean cell hemoglobin; RDW: RBC distribution width.
Superscript letters (^a,b,c,d,all) indicate significant differences between groups.
𝑃<0.001 was for the studied blood markers for the mean differences between acquired (IDA) and genetic anemia.