4- Red cell parameters Flashcards
What are we looking for regarding red cell parameters?
Red cell Mass (Pcv, RBCC, Hgb)
Appropriate erthyropoiesis (size & colour)
Red cells size
Red cell haemoglobinisation (MCHC)
Red cell shapes
What is MCV?
Mean corpuscular volume - average volume and size of individual red blood cells
What is MCHC?
mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration - average Hgb concentration (proportion of RBC occupied by Hgb as a percentage)
What 3 things measure red cell mass & oxygen carrying capacity?
PCV/Haematocrit
RBCC
Hgb
Will usually increase/decrease with one another
Classification of anaemia
microcytic hypochromic
normocytic normochromic
macrocytic hypochromic
What is polycythaemia?
An increased number of red blood cells
Increase in PCV, Hgb conc & RBC count
Describe the difference between relative & absolute polycythaemia
Relative = Have lost fluid somehow > RBC number is higher due to decrease in fluid in circulation
Absolute = Something driving RBC production\
‘true increase’
Name 2 causes of relative polycythaemia
Dehydration due to vomitting, diarrhoea, polyuria, water deprivation, burns
Exercise, fear, excitement , severe pain = stress
What are reticulocytes?
Immature RBCs
What does increase release of reticulocytes into the blood stream cause?
Regenerative anaemia
Species variation in reticulocytes: Dogs
Low number of reticulocytes
What species have 2 morphological types of reticulocytes? & Name them
Cats = aggregate & punctate
T/F in ruminants/horses virtually no reticulocytes are found in blood
True
How can you confirm agglutination in blood?
Mix 1 drop of blood with 1 drop of saline
agglutination will persist, rouleaux formation will disperse
Describe cat blood morphology
Smaller erythrocytes
Aniscytosis (variation in size)
Scare central pallor (less concave)
