[Erroneous diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia]

Haematological data on children with mild iron deficiency-anaemia are compared with those of patients with heterozygous beta-thalassemia. The differential diagnosis of beta-thalassemia minor may suspected on the grounds of the blood smear. Confirmation of the diagnosis is based on the MCV, HbA2 and the graphic determination of EVR50 as well as by family survey. With these simple methods beta-thalassemia minor may be diagnosed with reasonable certainty even in the absence of a special laboratory for the determination of the beta-chain deficiency of hemoglobin. The importance of the correct differential diagnosis is stressed because of the danger of unnecessary iron therapy in thalassemia.