Anaemia 1

Question 1

What is anaemia

Answer 1

a condition in which there is a deficiency of red cells or of haemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness.

Question 2

Why may some patients , that may be considered anaemic have high HB.

Answer 2

Changes in plasma volume can lead to a spuriously high hb .

This is seen in patients who experience seen with dehydration, stress
polycythaemia

Question 3

Name the three main types of anaemia

Answer 3

hypochromic microcytic with a low MCV
normochromic normocytic with a normal MCV
macrocytic with a high MCV

Question 4

Name some common examples of the causes of these three anaemias

hypochromic microcytic with a low MCV
normochromic normocytic with a normal MCV
macrocytic with a high MCV

Answer 4

hypochromic microcytic- Iron deficiency ,Thalassemia
normochromic normocytic with a normal MCV-blood loss ,haemolysis , chronic disease and marrow infiltration
macrocytic with a high MCV- megaloblastic anaemia

Question 5

Name three causes of anaemia that cause the bone marrow to fail at producing red cells

Answer 5

Nutritional deficiency- b12 , iron
reduced bone marrow erythroid cells - aplastic anaemia , marrow infiltration by leukaemia or malignancy
Ineffective red cell formation- chronic inflammation , thalassemia and renal disease

Question 6

Name some non specific symptoms of anaemia

Answer 6

Fatigue
headaches
faintness
breathlessness
angina of effort
intermittent claudication
palpitations

Question 7

Name some signs of anaemia

Answer 7

Pallor
Tachycardia: heart beat >100 bpm
systolic flow murmur: abnormal heart sound
cardiac failure
Papilloedema -rare: swelling in papillae
Retinal haemorrhages after acute bleed
may cause blindness