New WHO guideline for diagnosis of anaemia
The World Health Organisation has just revised its guideline for diagnosis of anaemia thanks to a team of Australian researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne, led by Professor Sant-Rayn Pasricha.
These Australian researchers have already:
- developed a drug for PV patients that restricts iron access to the bone marrow and so controls iron regulation (currently in clinical trials), and
- discovered the genetic link between increased risk of developing PV and the haemachromatosis gene.
Whilst this WHO guideline is for diagnosis of anaemia in general populations and does not refer to anaemia in the context of myeloproliferative neoplasms, we are excited to report on the contribution made to the field by Australian researchers.
The ABC’s ‘Health Report’ interviewed Professor Sant-Rayn Pasricha to explain the new guideline and how it was arrived at.
Listen to the interview HERE.
The guideline is titled ‘Guideline on haemoglobin cutoffs to define anaemia in individuals and populations’ and is freely available to download in PDF form HERE.
