Anaemia Flashcards

1
Q

What is anaemia?

A

Low levels of haemoglobin in the blood

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

What can anaemia be due to?

A

Reduction of RBC’s or haemoglobin

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

What are some things that are required to make RBC’s?

A
  • Metal: iron
  • Vitamins: B12, Folic acid
  • Hormones: Erythropoietin
  • Amino acids
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What proteins are used to hold the shape of the red blood cell?

A

Skeletal proteins

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

When would you diagnose a patient with anaemia?

A

When they have low haemoglobin

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

What should you also check in a patient with anaemia?

A

The Mean Cell Volume (MCV)

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

What does the mean cell volume indicate?

A

The size of the red blood cell

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

What is anaemia divided into categories based on?

A

The MCV

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

What are the 3 categories for anaemia?

A
  • Microcytic anaemia
  • Normocytic anaemia
  • Macrocytic anaemia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is Microcytic anaemia based on?

A

Low MCV- small red blood cells

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

What are the causes of microcytic anaemia?

A

TAILS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What does TAILS stand for?

A
T – Thalassaemia
A – Anaemia of chronic disease
I – Iron deficiency anaemia
L – Lead poisoning
S – Sideroblastic anaemia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Why should new onset microcytic anaemia in elderly patients be urgently investigated?

A

To exclude underlying malignancy

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

What is normocytic anaemia?

A

Normal MCV indicating normal sized RBCs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the causes of normocytic anaemia?

A

3A’s and 2H’s

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

What do the 3A’s and 2H’s stand for?

A
A – Acute blood loss
A – Anaemia of Chronic Disease
A – Aplastic Anaemia
H – Haemolytic Anaemia
H – Hypothyroidism
17
Q

What is macrocytic anaemia?

A

Large MCV- Large red blood cells

18
Q

What are the 2 types of macrocytic anaemia?

A

Megaloblastic macrocytic anaemia

Normoblastic macrocytic anaemia

19
Q

What is the cause of Megaloblastic macrocytic anaemia?

A

Impaired DNA synthesis

Prevents cell from dividing normally

20
Q

What happens to the cell in Megaloblastic macrocytic anaemia instead of dividing?

A

Grows into a larger abnormal cell

21
Q

What is the main cause of megaloblastic macrocytic anaemia?

A

Vitamin Deficiency

22
Q

What vitamin deficiency leads to megaloblastic macrocytic anaemia?

A
  • B12 deficiency

* Folate deficiency

23
Q

What are the causes of Normoblastic macrocytic anaemia?

A
  • Alcohol
  • Reticulocytosis (usually from haemolytic anaemia or blood loss)
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Liver disease
  • Drugs such as azathioprine
24
Q

What are some generic symptoms of anaemia?

A
  • Tiredness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Palpitations
25
Q

What are some generic signs of anaemia?

A
  • Pale skin
  • Conjunctival pallor
  • Tachycardia
  • Raised respiratory rate
26
Q

What are some examples of investigations you could carry out for anaemia?

A
  • Haemoglobin
  • Mean Cell Volume (MCV)
  • B12
  • Folate
  • Ferritin
  • Blood film