14 b

Question 1

General signs and symptoms

anaemia

Answer 1

Signs and symptoms may be mistaken as normal aging changes
Integumentary
◦ Pallor, jaundice, pruitis, inflammation (glossitis - tongue, cheilitis - lips)
Neurological
◦ Lack of coordination, fatigue, worsening confusion
Cardiopulmonary
◦ Tachypnoea resulting from additional attempts by heart and lungs to provide
adequate O2 to the tissues
◦ Worsening angina and heart failure
◦ Cardiac output is maintained by increasing the heart rate and stroke volume

Question 2

Anaemia - Hb levels
Mild
Moderate
Severe

Answer 2

Mild 100-120g/L
Moderate 60-100g/L
Severe < 60g/L

Question 3

Iron deficiency

Answer 3

is a health-related condition where there is not enough iron
available to meet the body’s needs.

Question 4

§ Iron is present in all

Answer 4

RBC’s as haeme in haemoglobin

in a stored form

Question 5

Iron-deficiency anaemia

Answer 5

. Level of stored iron is exhausted

and body is unable to produce enough Hb.

Question 6

Iron-deficiency anaemia causes

Answer 6

Ø Inadequate dietary intake
Ø Malabsorption (coeliac disease, decreased stomach acidity)
Ø Blood loss
Ø Haemolysis
Ø Pregnancy

Question 7

Multidisciplinary care anaemia

Answer 7

§ Identify ‘at risk’ groups
§ Goal is to treat the underlying disease causing reduced intake or
absorption of iron.
§ Efforts are aimed at replacing iron.
◦Nutritional therapy
◦Oral or occasional parenteral iron supplements
◦Iron therapy for 2 to 3 months after haemoglobin levels return to
normal
◦ Transfusion of packed RBC’s

Question 8

n Australia current clinical management (iron deficiency anaemia (IDA). )

Answer 8

in Australia current clinical management recommends use of oral iron (in appropriate doses
and for sufficient duration) as first-line therapy for most patients presenting with

Question 9

An iron infusion is sometimes

Answer 9

recommended for people who are low in iron (iron deficient).

Question 10

three preparations of intravenous iron (IV) are approved for IV use in Australia:

Answer 10

ü Ferric carboxymaltose: Ferinject®
ü Iron polymaltose: Ferrosig®
ü Iron sucrose: Venofer®

Question 11

Patients are usually monitored (heart rhythm and rate, BP, O2 Sats) during the IV infusion

Answer 11

because anaphylaxis may occur with IV iron and resuscitation facilities should therefore be
available.