Contributor: Gordon K. Klintworth
Acute blood loss anemia is specific type of anemia that results from acute hemorrhage. Within the first 1-2 days of an acute major hemorrhage the patient suffers mainly from a blood volume depletion and from the effects of a decreased perfusion pressure in various tissues. If the hemorrhage becomes controlled an acute blood loss anemia develops. This anemia is a normocytic anemia [anemia - normocytic] characterized by polychromasia and reticulocytosis.