antianemic /-ənē″mik/ [Gk, anti + a + haima, without blood] , 1. pertaining to a substance or procedure that counteracts or prevents a deficiency of erythrocytes. 2. an agent used to treat or to prevent anemia. Whole blood is transfused in the treatment of anemia resulting from acute blood loss, and packed cells are usually administered when the deficiency is caused by chronic blood loss. Transfusions of blood components are used in the treatment of aplastic anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is usually treated with oral preparations of ferrous sulfate, fumarate, or gluconate, but a parenteral preparation is indicated for people who are unable to absorb iron from the GI tract or for those who respond with nausea and diarrhea to the oral administration of iron. Cyanocobalamin is administered parenterally in the treatment of pernicious anemia. Folic acid is prescribed to correct a deficiency of that vitamin in the anemias accompanying general malnutrition or Laënnec’s cirrhosis and to treat the anemia of infants on an exclusive milk diet. A combination of folic acid and vitamin B12 is prescribed for people who are anemic as a result of an inadequate dietary intake of both vitamins.
