Abnormalities of the Erythron Flashcards

1
Q

What is different about the shape of Camelid RBC’s?

A

they’re elliptical shape

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2
Q

What is different about avian and reptile RBC’s?

A

RBC’s are nucleated

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3
Q

Where are RBC’s produced in both foetus and adults?

A

Liver/spleen in foetus
Bone Marrow- specifically in long bones in adults [liver and spleen do retain some erythropoietic capacity]

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4
Q

What is required for Red Blood cell production? (5)

A

Stem cells- duh
Space in marrow
Growth factors- IL-3, GM-CSF
Iron for Hb molecule production
Cholesterol/ Lipids for membrane

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5
Q

What is the most immature form of a RBC?

A

Rubriblast- has a dark blue cytoplasm on stain

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6
Q

What is the lifespan of Erythrocytres in domestic species?

A

Dog- 100 days
Cat- 70 days

[cow/ horse- 150 days]

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7
Q

How are RBC’s eliminated at the end of their lifecycle? (2)

A

Major route- taken up by phagocytic macrophages and components recycled in the spleen/liver
Minor route- intravascular haemolysis

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8
Q

Anaemia is a reduction in red cell mass, this can mean a decrease in… (4)

A

Haemoglobin Concentration
Packed cell volume- percentage of cells in a volume of blood
Haematocrit- red cell count and cell volume
Red blood cell concentration

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9
Q

What can we assess in a Packed Cell Volume test? (3)

A

Buffy coat assessment- leukocytes & thrombocytes
Plasma
Total protein measurement

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10
Q

A decrease in red cell mass can be due to… (2)

A

Increased loss
Decreased production

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11
Q

When would we classify Anaemia as MILD?

A

when PCV is 10% below normal- no clinical signs usually found by accident when investigating another pathology

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12
Q

Moderate Anaemia is classified based on…

A

Mucous membrane pallor, fast bounding pulse,

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13
Q

What are the signs of Severe Anaemia?

A

PCV in the lower teens and pale, weak presentation

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14
Q

How can we determine if the cells in a RBC sample are normocytic, macrocytic or microcytic?

A

Look at mean cell volume- based on cell numbers and cell size

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15
Q

Normocytic RBC’s are pathologically seen in…
Why?

A

mild non regenerative anaemia or acute haemorrhage
because bone marrow release too few macrocytic reticulocytes so most RBCs in the blood are those normocytic normochromic RBCs remaining from prior production

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16
Q

How do Microcytic RBC’s come into existance?

A

Hb conc determines when division stops- low iron means low Hb means it keep dividing resulting in smaller RBC’s

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17
Q

Give an example of non pathological Microcytic RBC’s?

A

Akitas- naturally have smaller RBC’s

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18
Q

RBC’s with a thin outer membrane are known as…

A

Microcytic

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19
Q

Macrocytic RBC’s are usually…

A

Polychromatophils (immature RBC’s)

20
Q

Give an example of a non pathological cause of finding Macrocytic blood cells in a sample? (2)

A

Poodles- naturally have larger RBC’s
In stored blood- cells in the tube progressively swell up so appear Macrocytic

21
Q

If I find Macrocytic red blood cells in a sample, I can probably guess that the PCV is…

A

Increased- volume of cells is larger because cells are larger so may affect anaemia classification

22
Q

How are RBC’s regenerated?
Briefly describe the process.

A

Kidneys respond to low O2 in blood > release erythropoietin > stimulates bone marrow to increase red cell production

23
Q

What is the difference between Polychromatophils and Reticulocytes?

A

Polychromatophils- large, blue cells on stains- young cells containing RNA
Reticulocytes- same cells BUT have been stained with New Methylene Blue so RNA forms an aggregate

24
Q

Normally we would count Reticulocytes on a blood smear to estimate the RBC count- how does this change in Cats?

A

Cats reticulocytes are released as aggregate reticulocytes which mature to punctate reticulocytes- we should include either or both when counting them

25
Q

Using the Reticulocyte %, how can we classify an anaemia as regenerative or non regenerative?

A

Reticulocyte % X Patient PCV
OR
RBC X Reticulocyte %

26
Q

Increased loss of RBC’s is indicative of what type of Anaemia?
Give two reasons this occurs…

A

Regenerative- just means loss is higher than what is being made
Haemolysis or Haemorrhage

27
Q

What is Melena indicative of and what can we do to confirm this symptom?

A

GI Bleeding
Take a faecal occult blood test- used to check stool samples for hidden blood

[diet needs to be meat free for 5 days otherwise test will be positive regardless]

28
Q

How can we differentiate an Internal Haemorrhage from an External Haemorrhage?

HINT- think Iron

A

Iron levels- In internal, blood remains in the body so iron is fine but external haemorrhages have low iron because the blood is lost fully

29
Q

What can we do to test for an Immune Mediated Haemolysis?

A

Coomb’s test- will confirm/ deny anti-RBC antibodies (IgG, IgM, IgA) in the blood

30
Q

When looked at under a microscope, high proteins in a Red Blood Sample is mistaken for what?
And why?

A

Mistaken for Agglutination- causes Rouleaux which is RBC’s sticking together as proteins stop RBC repelling each other

31
Q

What are Ghost cells associated with?

A

Hb has left the cell- membrane only
Associated with intravascular Haemolysis

32
Q

Extravascular Haemolysis is usually indicated by the presence of what cell?

A

Spherocytes- macrophage phagocytoses the RBC

33
Q

How do parasites cause Anaemia?

A

Cause Haemolysis by living off the surface of RBC’s and increasing their fragility

34
Q

Pyriform bodies in a Red Blood cells suggests what?

A

Haemolysis due to Babesia

35
Q

What can cause the presence of Heinz Bodies in a blood sample?

A

Oxidative Damage due to onions, paracetamol, Vitamin K etc.

36
Q

Apart from Heinz bodies, what other cell type indicates Oxidative Damage and why?

A

Eccentrocytes- Hb has uneven distribution in the cell due to oxidative damage to the membrane

37
Q

What inherited conditions can cause Haemolysis and who is predisposed to these conditions?

A

Pyruvate Kinase deficiency (Beagles and Basenjis)
Phosphofructokinase (English Springers)
Feline Porphyria

38
Q

If there is decreased production of RBC’s it can be categorised as…

A

Non regenerative

39
Q

What systems can involved in a decreased production of RBC’s? (2)

A

Renal- think Erythropoietin
Endocrine- hypothyroidism & hypoadrenocorticism- cortisol and thyroid hormone effect RBC production

40
Q

RBC’s in Non Regenerative are usually…
what size/ abundance?

A

Normocytic & Normochromic- just not being produced lol

41
Q

Give an example of a disease that causes Non- Regenerative Anaemia?

A

FeLV- causes depression of erythropoiesis

42
Q

What causes aplastic anaemia?

A

Issues with bone marrow meaning all RBC precursors are wiped out e.g. estrogen toxicity (think sertoli tumours), chemotherapy

43
Q

Give an example of a Regenerative condition that can become Non-regenerative?

A

Iron deficiency in the long term can become non regenerative
Immune mediated attacks on red cell precursors

44
Q

What is Erythrocytosis and what can cause it?

A

Too many RBC’s
Caused by dehydration- less liquid- more concentrated
Splenic Contraction- pushes RBC’s out due to Hypercapnia (too much CO2 in blood) or Hypoxia

44
Q

How do we store blood samples?

A

Smears- room temperature
Blood tubes- in fridge