Anemia

Treatment

Doctors at Mayo Clinic offer specialized care for all types of anemia, and are nationally and internationally recognized for their expertise in the treatment of blood disorders. They treat thousands of patients annually. Treatment is individualized, as noted below, depending on the type of anemia you have and any related conditions.

• Iron deficiency anemia. This anemia is treated with iron supplements and, if necessary, blood transfusions. If the underlying cause of the deficiency is blood loss (other than from menstruation), the source of the bleeding must be located and stopped, which may involve surgery.
• Vitamin deficiency anemia. If Vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia (pernicious anemia) is severe, vitamin B-12 injections are given, usually for your lifetime. Less severe pernicious anemia may be treated with vitamin B-12 pills or with a nasal spray for people who have trouble swallowing pills. Folic acid deficiency anemia is treated with folic acid supplements.
• Anemia of chronic disease. There is no specific, universal treatment for this type. Doctors focus on treating the underlying disease. But if symptoms become severe, a blood transfusion or synthetic hormone injections may help stimulate red blood cell production and ease fatigue.
• Aplastic anemia. Treatment may include blood transfusions to boost red blood cell levels. If you have an autoimmune disorder, in which your immune system starts attacking healthy cells, treatment often involves taking drugs that suppress your immune system. You may need a bone marrow transplant if your bone marrow is diseased.
• Anemias associated with bone marrow disease. Treatment of these various diseases can range from medication to chemotherapy to bone marrow transplantation.
• Hemolytic anemias. Managing hemolytic anemias includes spleen removal surgery (splenectomy), avoiding suspect medications, treating related infections, taking drugs that suppress your immune system, or a blood transfusion or plasmapheresis, a blood-filtering procedure.
• Sickle cell anemia. Treatment may include receiving oxygen, pain-relieving medications, and fluids to reduce pain and prevent complications. Other common treatments are blood transfusions, folic acid supplements and antibiotics. A bone marrow transplant or a cancer drug may be effective in some circumstances.
• Thalassemia. This anemia may be treated with blood transfusions, folic acid supplements, a splenectomy, a bone marrow transplant or a cancer drug.

Other types of anemia may warrant different types of treatment. Read more about the treatment of anemia at MayoClinic.com.