Anaemia Flashcards
What is a normal reticulocyte count?
1-2%
What happens to the reticulocyte account in anaemia in a properly functioning marrow?
Increases to >3%
= Good marrow response
If <3% = poor marrow response
List causes of microcytic anaemia
Fe deficiency anaemia
Thalassemia (disorder of globin synthesis)
Anaemia of chronic disease (impaired iron metabolism)
Sideroblastic anaemia (disorder of haem synthesis)
Lead poisoning (disorder of haem synthesis)
Hb is made up of haem (… +…) + globin
Haem = iron + protoporphyrin
List causes of normocytic anaemia
Blood loss Haemolysis Anaemia of chronic disease Renal failure/anaemia BM failure - infiltration, chemo/drug-induced
List causes of macrocytic anaemia
B12 (megaloblastic) Folate (megaloblastic) ETOH (B12 deficiency, liver disease, BM suppression) Multiple myeloma MDS Hypothyroidism Liver disease Drugs - MTX, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, chemotherapy, allopurinol, erythromycin, PPI, OCP, hydroxyurea, trimethoprim
Where is iron absorbed?
Duodenum
Iron is consumed in two forms. What are they?
Haem (meat)
Non-haem (vegetables)
What happens to your platelets in iron deficiency?
Raised platelets
List causes if iron deficiency
Blood loss
Low iron intake (vegetarians)
Reduced absorption - IBD, coeliac, bariatric surgery, H.pylori
Increased demand - pregnancy, lactation, puberty
Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (rare)
List clinical features of Fe deficiency
Features of anaemia
Kilonychia (spoon-shaped nails)
Pica (chew on things classically ice)
How long to wait before checking response to IV iron?
6 weeks
In what diseases would you consider a higher iron target?
Renal failure
Heart failure
How does the MCV compare in thalassemia and iron deficiency?
MCV is often much longer in thalassemia
What do you the following parameters reflect: Serum iron Transferrin/total iron binding capacity Tf sat Ferritin
Serum iron - this can fluctuate with food, time of day
Transferrin/total iron binding capacity - measure of transferrin molecules (made by liver) in the blood
Tf sat - % of transferring molecules that are bound to iron
Ferritin - iron stored in macrophages or liver
What is DMT1, haem carrier protein-1 (HCP-1) and ferroportin?
DMT 1 transports non-haem iron (Fe2+; vegetable) from gut lumen to enterocyte
HCP-1 transports haem iron (meat) from gut lumen to enterocyte
Ferroportin transports Fe2+ from enterocyte to blood
What’s hepcidin?
Expressed mostly in the liver (small amounts in muscle, intestine, lungs etc)
1) Binds to ferroportin and stops iron from going from enterocyte to circulation (traps iron within enterocyte)
2) Traps iron in macrophages
3) Suppresses EPO production
Goal is to prevent bacteria from accessing iron
What happens to hepcidin in these situations?
High iron =
Hypoxia =
Inflammation =
Erythropoiesis =
Chronic haemolytic anaemia or thalassemia =
Haemachromatosis =
High iron = high hepcidin
Hypoxia = low hepcidin (want more RBCs to be produced so need more iron)
Inflammation = high hepcidin (reduce amount of iron available to bacteria)
Erythropoiesis = low hepcidin
Chronic haemolytic anaemia or thalassemia –> Fe overload = low hepcidin (inappropriate –> worsens iron overload)
Haemachromatosis = low hepcidin (inappropriate)
How to differentiate between iron deficiency anaemia and anaemia of chronic disease?
Serum iron - both low
Transferrin/TIBC - high + low
Tf sat - both low
Serum ferritin - low + normal/high
What is sideroblastic anaemia?
Anaemia due to defective protoporphyrin synthesis
- Reduced protoporphyrin –> reduced haem –> reduced Hb –> microcytic anaemia
How do you get sideroblastic anaemia?
Congenital
Acquired - ETOH, lead poisoning, Vitamin B6 deficiency (isoniazid in TB)
What is your iron status like in sideroblastic anaemia?
Fe overloaded state
Because the problem is you don’t have enough protoporphyrin!
Iron + protoporphyrin = haem
Hb consists of 2 pairs of globin chains. Pair of alpha chains and pair of non-alpha chains (these are …)
Adult: beta chains
Baby: Gamma chains
What are the 2 types of thalassemia?
𝛼- and 𝛽-thalassemia