What are common causes of normocytic anemia?

Normocytic anemia is characterized by the presence of red blood cells that are of normal size but reduced in number. This form of anemia typically arises in conditions where there's a chronic disease or inflammation affecting the production of red blood cells.

Chronic diseases, such as kidney disease, autoimmune disorders, and malignancies, can lead to normocytic anemia through several mechanisms. In these conditions, the body often produces inflammatory cytokines that can inhibit erythropoiesis (the production of red blood cells) in the bone marrow. Additionally, conditions such as chronic infections can also lead to anemia of inflammation, contributing to the overall reduction of red blood cell production and maintaining them at a normocytic size despite the lower quantity.

While other options present valid causes of anemia, they do not specifically align with the characteristics of normocytic anemia. For instance, vitamin deficiencies predominantly lead to macrocytic anemia, while dehydration typically results in hemoconcentration, influencing red blood cell indices but not directly causing a normocytic anemia. Aplastic anemia typically presents with a much more severe drop in cell lines across the board (including leukocytes and platelets), which is not characteristic of normocytic anemia. Iron deficiency generally leads to microcytic anemia due