transitive verb. 1  To keep up or carry on; continue: maintain good relations. 2  To keep in an existing state; preserve or retain: maintain one's composure. 3  To keep in a condition of good repair or efficiency: maintain two cars.
Anemia is usually classified based on the size of RBCs, as measured by the mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Anemia can be microcytic (MCV typically less than 80 Î¼m3 [80 fL]), normocytic (80 to 100 Î¼m3 [80 to 100 fL]), or macrocytic (greater than 100 Î¼m3 [100 fL]).
1 The major causes of this type are iron deficiency (low level iron) anemia and thalassemia (inherited disorders of hemoglobin). 2  If the red blood cells size are normal in size (but low in number), this is called normocytic anemia, such as anemia that accompanies chronic disease or anemia related to kidney disease. In general, there are three major types of anemia, classified according to the size of the red blood cells: 2  If the red blood cells are smaller than normal, this is called microcytic anemia. 3  The major causes of this type are iron deficiency (low level iron) anemia and thalassemia (inherited disorders of hemoglobin).