Background: In hospitalized patients with anemia, the AABB recommends that transfusion of red blood cells occur when a patient’s hemoglobin (Hb) drops below a restrictive transfusion threshold, either at 7 or 8g/dL1. These transfusion guidelines are the result of a growing body of clinical trial evidence showing that transfusion at lower or restrictive Hb thresholds [...]

Background: In hospitalized patients with anemia the AABB recommends that transfusion of red blood cells occur when a patient’s hemoglobin (Hb) drops below a restrictive transfusion threshold, either at 7 or 8g/dL. These recommendations are the result of a growing body of clinical trial evidence showing that transfusion at estrictive Hb thresholds is safe, compared [...]

Background: The World Health Organization defines anemia in females as a hemoglobin (Hb)

Case Presentation: A 30-year-old man with sickle cell anemia presented to the ED with pain in his left hip similar to prior vasooclussive crisis (VOC). There was no identifiable trigger and his review of symptoms was negative. Past medical history included sickle cell anemia complicated by acute chest syndrome (ACS), avascular necrosis of the right [...]

Case Presentation: A 51-year-old African American Female with PMHx of sickle cell trait, vitiligo (developed 5 years ago), T2DM, HTN, unspecified seizure disorder who presented with altered mental status and found to have severe pancytopenia. She presented hemodynamically stable with a physical exam notable for: pale conjunctiva and diffuse skin hypopigmentation consistent with vitiligo. Medications: [...]

Case Presentation: A 49-year-old male presented with shortness of breath, fatigue and four weeks of dark stools. He had previously been diagnosed with IgG lambda multiple myeloma (MM) with renal insufficiency and hypertension. He had MM disease progression despite completing chemotherapy and had declined further treatment. Physical exam revealed an ill-appearing, pale mane with a [...]

Case Presentation: A 37-year-old Asian-American woman with a past medical history significant for PCOS, HPV, HSV- 1, iron malabsorption/deficiency, and vitamin B12 deficiency-related anemia presented to the ED with body aches, fever, fatigue, cough, and recurrent URI for the past 3 months. Following treatment, she presented two weeks later to the hematology clinic for scheduled [...]

Case Presentation: This is an 84-year old Caucasian man with a past medical history of hypercholesterinemia who developed dry cough, mild shortness of breath, generalized weakness, and fever 13 days prior to the presentation. Three days after onset, he was tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus. His shortness of breath continued to worsen, and the patient [...]

Case Presentation: A 46-year-old male from Nigeria with no medical history presented to the emergency department (ED) with 5 days of dark urine, decreased oral intake, weakness, and abdominal pain. On exam, the patient was tachycardic, jaundiced, and had normal oxygen saturation. Labs revealed a leukocytosis, acute kidney injury (AKI), and a precipitous drop in [...]

Case Presentation: A 48-year-old female with no known medical history presented after a syncopal episode and one week of malaise and fatigue. She was diagnosed with high output heart failure complicating severe pulmonary hypertension. Hemoglobin was 2.7 g/dL with MCV of 50 fL. She denied menorrhagia, melena, hematuria or hematemesis as well as weight loss [...]