anaemia

Question 1

what is normal HB?

Answer 1

women: 120 – 165 grams/litre
men: 130 -180 grams/litre

Question 2

what is normal mcv?

Answer 2

80-100 femtolitres

Question 3

what are the causes of microcytic anaemia?

Answer 3

TAILS

T – Thalassaemia
A – Anaemia of chronic disease
I – Iron deficiency anaemia
L – Lead poisoning
S – Sideroblastic anaemia- inability to incorporate iron in haemoglobin, seen in myelodysplastic disorders

Question 4

what are the causes of normocytic anaemia?

Answer 4

There are 3 As and 2 Hs for normocytic anaemia:

A – Acute blood loss
A – Anaemia of Chronic Disease
A – Aplastic Anaemia- condition where body stops producing enough rbc

H – Haemolytic Anaemia
H – Hypothyroidism

Question 5

what are the different types of macrocytic anaemia?

Answer 5

1. megaloblastic- impaired DNA synthesis stops cells from dividing, so they end up growing to larger than average size
2. normoblastic

Question 6

what are the causes of megaloblastic macrocytic anaemia/

Answer 6

B12 deficiency

Folate deficiency

Question 7

what are the causes of normoblastic macrocytic anaemia?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

what are some specific sign s of anaemia?

Answer 8

Koilonychia is spoon shaped nails and can indicate iron deficiency

Angular chelitis can indicate iron deficiency

Atrophic glossitis is a smooth tongue due to atrophy of the papillae and can indicate iron deficiency

Brittle hair and nails can indicate iron deficiency

Jaundice occurs in haemolytic anaemia

Bone deformities occur in thalassaemia

Oedema, hypertension and excoriations on the skin can indicate chronic kidney disease