Anaemia Flashcards
Causes of microcytic anaemia
(TICLS)
- thalassemia
- iron deficiency
- chronic disease
- lead poisoning
- sideroblastic anaemia
Anaemia
A common condition that results in impaired oxygen delivery to tissues due to reduced haemoglobin levels.
Commonly categorised by MCV:
- microcytic < 80
- normocytic 80-100
- macrocytic > 100
Microcytic anaemia blood tests
Serum iron profile:
- iron
- ferritin
- TIBC
- transferrin
Blood results in iron deficiency anaemia
- iron reduced
- ferritin reduced
- TIBC increased
Blood results in microcytic anaemia of chronic disease
- iron decreased
- ferritin normal or increased
- TIBC decreased
Blood test for normocytic anaemia
reticulocyte count
differentiate between high and low
High reticulocyte normocytic anaemia
- haemolytic anaemia
- blood loss
increased RBC production to compensate
Low reticulocyte normocytic anaemia
- bone marrow disorders (e.g. aplastic anaemia)
Blood investigations in macrocytic anaemia
Blood film
Megaloblastic macrocytic anaemia
- megaloblasts are large immature RBS
- hyper-segmented neutrophils on blood film
- causes inc. VB12 deficiency, folate deficiency, methotrexate
Non-megaloblastic macrocytic anaemia
causes include:
- alcohol
- hypothyroid
- pregnancy
Indications for blood transfusion in anaemia
Hb < 70
or
Hb 70-90 if symptomatic or normovolaemic
(rarely indicated in Hb > 100)
Categorising anaemia based on RBC lifecycle
- decreased production
- blood loss
- increased destruction (haemolysis)
Types of anaemia caused by decreased RBC production
- bone marrow disorders (aplastic anaemia)
- CKD (reduced erythropoetin production)
- hypothyroidism
- VB12, folate, and iron deficiencies
- chronic inflammatory disease
Diseases that cause intravascular haemolysis
- disseminated intravascular coagulation
- thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
- haemolytic uraemic syndrome
- mechanical heart valve
cause fragmented RBCs
