Anaemia Flashcards
What are the causes of microcytic anaemia? (5)
TAILS
• T – Thalassaemia • A – Anaemia of chronic disease • I – Iron deficiency anaemia • L – Lead poisoning • S – Sideroblastic anaemia
What is the most common cause of anaemia of chronic disease?
CKD
How does CKD cause anaemia?
Causes reduced erythropoietin by the kidneys
This usually stimulates RBC production
Where is erythropoietin produced?
Kidneys
How do you treat anaemia of chronic disease cause by CKD?
Supplement iron first to correct low iron if there
Then treat with erythropoietin
What are the causes of normocytic anaemia? (5)
3As 2Hs
• A – Acute blood loss
• A – Anaemia of chronic disease
• A – Aplastic anaemia
• H – Haemolytic anaemia
• H – Hypothyroidism
What are the 2 groups of macrocytic anaemia? What are they caused by? (2 + 5)
Megaloblastic anaemia is caused by:
• B12 deficiency
• Folate deficiency
Normoblastic macrocytic anaemia is caused by: ○ Alcohol ○ Reticulocytosis (usually from haemolytic anaemia or blood loss) ○ Hypothyroidism ○ Liver disease ○ Drugs, such as azathioprine
What is the mechanism of megaloblastic anaemia?
Impaired dna synthesis from vitamin deficiency causes the cells not to divide normally
They grow into large abnormal cells rather than dividing
What 2 things can cause reticulocytosis?
Haemolytic anaemia
Blood loss
What are some generic symptoms of anaemia? (6)
• Tiredness
• Shortness of breath
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Palpitations
• Worsening of other conditions, such as angina, heart failure or peripheral arterial disease
What are 2 symptoms specific to iron deficiency anaemia?
○ Pica (dietary cravings for abnormal things, such as dirt or soil)
○ Hair loss
What are some generic signs of anaemia? (4)
• Pale skin
• Conjunctival pallor
• Tachycardia
• Raised respiratory rate
What is koilonychia and what’s it a sign of?
Spoon shaped nails
Iron deficiency anaemia
What is angular chelitis a sign of?
Iron deficiency anaemia
What is atrophic glossitis and what is it a sign of?
Smooth tongue due to atrophy of the papillae
Iron deficiency anaemia
What anaemia can brittle hair and nails be a sign of?
Iron decicin
What anaemia is jaundice a sign of?
Haemolytic anaemia
What tests must be done in unexplained anaemia? (2)
OGD
Colonoscopy
What is the serum iron, % saturation, ferritin and TIBC levels in iron deficiency anaemia?
Serum iron = low
% saturation = low
Ferritin = low (all of the stored iron is used up because serum iron is depleted)
TIBC = high
What is the serum iron, % saturation, ferritin and TIBC levels in anaemia of chronic disease?
Serum iron = low
% saturation = low
Ferritin = High (due to built-up stores from hepcidin)
TIBC = low
What is the serum iron, % saturation, ferritin and TIBC levels in sideroblastic anaemia?
Serum iron = High (iron builds up in cells and released into serum once the cell bursts)
% saturation = high
Ferritin = high (iron in overloaded state)
TIBC = low
What anaemia shows these iron results:
Low serum iron
Low % saturation
Low ferritin
High TIBC?
Iron deficiency anaemia
What anaemia shows these iron results:
Low serum iron
Low % saturation
High ferritin
Low TIBC?
Anaemia of chronic disease
What anaemia shows these iron results:
High serum iron
High % saturation
High ferritin
Low TIBC?
Sideroblastic anaemia
