Internal Medicine Board Review: Causes of Microcytic Anemia (“TICS”)

MARCH 17, 2014 / RAVI BHATIA

Medical Mnemonics – Causes of Microcytic Anemia – “TICS”

It’s Medical Mnemonics Monday!

Microcytic anemia is defined as “the presence of small, often hypochromic, red blood cells in a peripheral blood smear and is usually characterized by a low MCV.” One of the most popular and well known medical mnemonics is “TICS” – used to remember the causes of microcytic anemia.

• T – Thalassemia
• I – Iron Deficiency
• C – Chronic Disease
• S – Sideroblastic anemia

Check out the list of the previous Medical Mnemonics here.