Red cells II: acquired anaemias and polycythaemia Review Article

• Iron deficiency affects 30% of the worldʹs population. • Iron metabolism is tightly regulated, with both gut transport and storage being coordinated. • Hereditary haemochromatosis due to mutations in the HFE gene leads to increased absorption of iron and multiple end-organ damage. • Myelodysplastic disorders are acquired clonal stem-cell disorders that cause ineffective erythropoiesis. • Aplastic anaemia is caused by an intrinsic defect of haemopoietic stem cells; both inherited and acquired forms occur. • Primary polycythaemia is a myeloproliferative disorder, a non-malignant stem-cell disease.