Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Y3 Revision > Anaemia > Flashcards

Anaemia Flashcards

1
Q

What is anaemia?

A

“without blood”

Reduced red blood cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

State the parameters for defining anaemia in an adult male (Hb and haematocrit levels)

A

Hb less than 130g/L

Hct 0.38-0.52

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

State the parameters for defining anaemia in an adult female (Hb and haematocrit levels)

A

Hb less than 120g/L

Hct 0.37-0.47

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is haematocrit?

A

Ratio/percentage of whole blood that is made up of red cells if the sample was left to settle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What cells represent circulatory red cells that have just left the bone marrow?

A

Reticulocytes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How does the blood film of reticulocytes appear?

A

Polychromatic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How is anaemia classified by pathophysiology?

A

Decreased production of red cells (reduced or ineffective erythropoiesis) [low reticulocyte count]
Increased destruction of red cells (haemolysis, bleeding) [high reticulocyte count)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What morphological characteristic can be used to classify anaemia?

A

Mean cell volume

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How can mean cell volume be used to distinguish between cytoplasmic and nuclear defects in erythropoiesis?

A

Low MCV suggests problems with haemoglobinisation in the cytoplasm
High MCV suggests problems with red cell maturation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Deficiency in haemoglobin production results in what type of anaemia?

A

Microcytic anaemia - cells are small (low MCV) and hypochromic (lack colour)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

List some causes of microcytic anaemia

A 
Haem deficiency (lack of iron, problem with porphyrin synthesis)
Globin deficiency (thalassaemia)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Circulating iron is bound to what?

A

Transferrin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Iron is stored as ferritin where in the body?

A

Liver

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How can iron deficiency be confirmed?

A 
Anaemia (less functional iron)
Low ferritin (less stored iron)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

List some causes of iron deficiency

A

Dietary insufficiency
Blood loss
Malabsorption
Pregnancy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

High mean cell volume is associated with which type of anaemia?

A

Macrocytic anaemia - cells are big

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the difference between macrocytosis and macrocytic anaemia?

A

Macrocytosis: raised MCV, normal RBC count

Macrocytic anaemia: raised MCV, low RBC count

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

How many binding sites are there on a transferrin molecule?

A

2

19
Q

What unit is MCV measured in?

A

Femtolitres (fl)

1 femtolitre = 10^-15 litres

20
Q

What is the range for a normal MCV?

A

80-100 fl

21
Q

What is a megaloblast?

A

Abnormally large red cell precursor with an immature nucleus

22
Q

Macrocytic anaemia can be caused by megaloblastic cells. What is the characteristic microscopic appearance of these red cells?

A

Immature nucleus
Normal cytoplasm
Big cell

23
Q

What is the consequence of a megaloblastic cell?

A

Cytoplasm and haem synthesis is fully developed even though nucleus is immature; cell senses it has enough Hb and doesn’t divide anymore, leading to macrocytosis

24
Q

List some causes of megaloblastic anaemia

A

B12 deficiency
Folate deficiency
Drugs
Inherited conditions

25
Q

Why does lack of B12 and folate cause megaloblastic anaemia?

A

B12 and folate are essential cofactors for nuclear maturation - enable reactions for DNA synthesis
Thus deficiency leads to DNA defects

26
Q

Which 2 biochemical cycles involving folate and B12 are involved in DNA synthesis?

A

Methionine cycle

Folate cycle

27
Q

Where in the body does B12 bind to intrinsic factor?

A

Ileum

28
Q

List some causes of B12 deficiency

A 
Dietary insufficiency (vegetarians)
Small bowel resection
Atrophic gastritis
Gastrectomy
Pancreatitis
Malabsorption (Coeliac, IBD)
29
Q

Where in the body is dietary folate absorbed?

A

Duodenum and jejunum

30
Q

How long does the body store B12 and folate respectively?

A

B12: 2-4 years
Folate: 4 months

31
Q

State the daily requirements of B12 and folate

A

B12: 1-3 micrograms/day
Folate: 100 micrograms/day

32
Q

List some causes of folate deficiency

A

Dietary insufficiency
Malabsorption
Excess utilisation (haemolysis, pregnancy, malignancy)
Drugs (anticonvulsants)

33
Q

List clinical features of B12 and folate deficiency

A 
Signs of anaemia
Weight loss
Diarrhoea
Infertility
Sore tongue
Jaundice
Developmental problems
34
Q

B12 deficiency can cause issues with the myelin sheath. What neurological problems may result?

A 
Dorsal column abnormality
Lateral tract degeneration
Neuropathy
Dementia
Psychiatric manifestations
35
Q

What is pernicious anaemia?

A

Autoimmune condition where gastric parietal cells are destroyed, causing decreased intrinsic factor and thus B12 deficiency

36
Q

How is macrocytic anaemia diagnosed in the lab?

A

Blood film: macrovalocytes and hypersegmented neutrophils (more than 5 segments)
B12 and folate serum assay
Antibodies: parietal-cell, intrinsic factor

37
Q

List treatment for megaloblastic anaemia

A

Treat cause
B12 injections
Folic acid tablets
Red cell transfusion if life-threatening

38
Q

List some causes of non-megaloblastic anaemia

A

Alcoholism
Liver disease
Hypothyroidism
Marrow failure

39
Q

What is spurious macrocytosis?

A

The size of the red cell is normal but the MCV is high

40
Q

What causes a spurious macrocytosis?

A

Acute blood loss/red cell breakdown response: increase in reticulocytes, which are bigger than red cells, which are analysed as part of MCV

41
Q

Reticulocytosis is a marker of what?

A

Red cell production

42
Q

What compound is a product of red cell breakdown that causes pale urine?

A

Urobilinogen

43
Q

What is the commonest cause of hypochromic microcytic anaemia?

A

Iron deficiency

Y3 Revision (85 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions