Anaemia Flashcards
What is shown by an increase in unconjugated bilirubin
prehepatic/hepatic jaundice
How does bilirubin become conjugated
Bilirubin in the blood is bound to albumin (unconjugated). It is converted to conjugated bilirubin when entering the liver
What are some of the complications associated with a higher bilirubin?
Jaundice, Obstructive gall stones
What is hereditary spherocytosis?
Inherited disruption of vertical linkages in RBC cell membrane (ankyrin), -> spherocytes
What blood cells would you see in a blood film of hereditary spherocytosis?
Spherocytes, Cells with no central pallor, Reticulocytes
Why would you see reticulocytes in a blood film?
Compensatory effect - as more blood cells get destroyed, early forms of rbcs (reticulocytes) are released from the bone marrow prematurely to do some of the oxygen delivering
seen as polychromatic (blue tinge) cells
What causes raised bilirubin
RBC breakdown
What is haemolysis
^ destruction of RBC
due to intrinsic RBC abnormality
due to extrinsic factors acting on RBC
What is haemolytic anaemia
Haemolysis -> red. Hb
How to treat haemolytic anaemia
Folic acid (aid rq for erythropoeisis)
Splenectomy (^RBC lifespan)
Presentation of px with conjugated bilirubin
Pigment gallstones
Obstructive jaundice - block common bile duct
Difference btw unconjugated and conjugated bilirubin
Unconjugated bilirubin:
insoluble in blood - bound to albumin
Pre-hepatic jaundice
Toxic (to the brain)
Cannot be excreted via urine
Conjugated bilirubin:
Water soluble
small amounts loosely bound to albumin
post-hepatic jaundice (issues w/ bile duct/gallbladder)
Relatively non-toxic
Excreted in urine -> dark
Mechanism of anaemia
PPLS
Production (red. RBC/Hb prod by the bone marrow)
Pooling (Splenomegaly)
Loss of blood from the body
Survival (haemolysis).
What is DAT and how does it work
Direct Antiglobulin test
In solution coloured rabbit AB to identify whether blood contains autoantibodies (binds autoAB)
What does AIHA stand for and what are its causes
Autoimmune Haemolytic anaemia
idiopathic, SLE, lymphoma
What lab evidence would point towards haemolysis
^ LDH (lactate dehydrogenase)
Unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia (show prehepatic issue)
red. haptoglobulins (breakdown free Hb in liver)
What is the bone marrows response to haemolysis
Reticulocytosis
What causes aq haemolytic anaemia (HA)
Defect in the RBC environment (plasma, vasculature)
Non-immune environmental factors leading to aq HA
Haemolytic uraemic syndrome - AKI
Malaria - microbe
Snake venom
drugs - oxidant damage
Immune mediated factors leading to aq HA
Autoimmune
Alloimmune (post transfusion)
How can you differentiate between AIHA and hereditary spherocytosis?
DAT test - positive in AIHA
What inherited defects can affect RBC
Hereditary spherocytosis - membrane
Sickle cell anaemia - Hb
G6PD deficiency - Pentose shunt dysfunction
What is the purpose of the HMP Shunt?
Forms Glutathione and protects RBC from oxidant damage
What enzyme is critical in the HMP shunt that if deficient can lead to haemolytic anaemia?
G6PD