Anaemia 1

Question 1

What is anaemia and what are some causes?

Answer 1

Reduction in Hb in the blood - not necessarily red cell reduction

Causes:

• Reduced PRODUCTION of Hb
• Increase LOSS of Hb
• Increased DEMAND of Hb

Question 2

What is Haematinic deficiency and what are they used for?

Answer 2

Haematinics - things used to make RBC

• Iron
• Vit B12
• Folic acid (folate)

Question 3

What are some iron sources?

Answer 3

• Meat
• Green leafy vegetables
• Iron tablets/supplements

Question 4

What are the diseases which affect iron absorption?

Answer 4

• Achlorhydria (Lack of stomach acid)

- Coeliac disease (affects absorption by affected villi)

Question 5

What are some means of iron loss?

Answer 5

• Gastric erosions & ulcers
• Inflammatory Bowel disease
• Bowel cancer
• Haemorrhoids (lumps inside and around anus)

Question 6

What causes Vitamin B12 deficiency?

Answer 6

• Lack of intake - strict vegans
• Lack of intrinsic factor
• Disease of terminal ileum

Question 7

What causes folic acid deficiency and what is a potential side effect?

Answer 7

• Lack of intake
• Absorption failure

Can lead to Neural Tube defect in foetus (spina bifida)

Question 8

Where can you get Folic acid from?

Answer 8

Green leafy vegetables

Question 9

What are examples of Abnormal globin chains to a haemoglobin molecule?

Answer 9

• Thalassaemia

- Sickle cell anaemia

Question 10

What is Thalassaemia?

Answer 10

• Decreased haemoglobin production

- Genetic mutation of GLOBIN CHAINS

Question 11

What is sickle cell anaemia?

Answer 11

• Abnormal globin chains

- Change in shape of RBCs resulting in decreased surface area of cell and poor oxygen delivery