Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Haematology > Anaemia > Flashcards

Anaemia Flashcards

1
Q

Anaemia definition

A

a condition in which there is a deficiency of red cells or of haemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness

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

Signs of anaemia

A

Koilonychia - spooning of the nails Atrophic glossitis - smooth flat tongue Angular stomatitis - cracks at te corner of the mouth Oesophageal web - plumer vision syndrome Pallor (eg conjunctivae) Increased cardiac output a. angina b. flow murmurs c. palpitations d cardiac failur

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

Symptoms of anaemia

A

Due to decreased oxygen-carrying capacity: -Fatige -dyspnoea palpitations headache tinnitus

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

Classifcations of anaemia

A

Anaemias may be due to either decreased production or increased loss of RBCs 1. Macrocytic- large erythrocytes 2. Microcytic - smalle erythrocytes 3. Normocytic - normal-sized cells

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

Causes of Normocytic anaemia

A

Normocytic normochromic

First step look for

  • -MCV = 80-95 femtolittres
  • -MCH >26pigograms
  1. Acute blood loss 2. Anaemia of chronic disease 3. Bone marrow failire e.g post chemo, infiltration by carcinoma 4. Renal failure 5. Hypothyroidism 6. Haemolysis 7. Pregnancy
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Causes of Macrocytic anaemias

A

Macrocytic

First step look for

    • MCV >95fl

Megaloblastic: -Vit B12 deficiency -Folate deficiency

Normoblastic: -Alcohol excess or liver disease -Reticulocytosis - Cytotoxic - Myelodysplastic syndromes -Hypothyroidisi

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

Normal MCV

A

76-96 fl

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

Anaemias which dont fit into the above classification

A

Haemolytic anaemias

  • may be macrocytic or normocytic

Anaemia of chronic diseae can be either:

  • RBC indices that are normocytic and normochromic suggest ACD of fairly recent onset.
  • RBC indices and blood smear that are microcytic and hypochromic suggest ACD has been present some weeks or months
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Iron deficiency Anaemia transferrin levels

A
  • 30% saturated with transferrin
  • IDA liver responds to reduced levels, increased trasnferrin, saturation falls - 15%
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Three phases of iron deficiency anaemia development

A

Develops gradually over three phases 1. Low serum ferritin always indicated low RES iron stores 2. Iron lost first from RES iron stores, before Hb falls – latent iron deficiency 3. The process continues Iron becomes - iron availablty to red cells is reduced and patient develops iron deficiency anaemia

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

Problem with serum ferritin

A

Acute phase protein In presence of tissue inflammation IDA can occur with normal serum ferritin levels (Rhuematoid arthiris and IBD)

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

Causes of iron deficiency anaemia

A
  1. Dietary- premature neonates and adolescent females 2. Malabsorption 3. Blood los Golden rule - IDA in males & post menopausal females is due to GI blood loss until proven otherwise - Young women; menstrual blood loss or pregnancy - GI investigations only for GI symptoms or positive FOBs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Treatment of iron deficiency anaemia

A
  • Treatment of IDA is iron replacement & not blood transfusion - Ferrous Sulphate -200mg tabs o 200mg = 60mg elemental iron - Ferrous Gluconate 300mg tabs (switch to this if GI toxicity) o 300mg = 36mg elemental iron - IV iron; can give 1G over 2-3 hours. Hb rises no quicker than oral replacement. - Main uses: o Intolerant of oral iron o Compliance o Renal anaemia & Epo replacement - Discover cause
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Anaemia of Chronic disease (ACD) causes

A

Failure of iron utilisation Iron trapped in RES Common In hospitlaised patients Causes - THREE FOLD -infection -Inleammation -Neoplasia

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

Anaemia of chronic renal failure

A

is Anaemia of chronic disease + fialure of kidneys to produce EPO

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

Lab values of Anaemia of chronic disease

A

MCV/MCH is normal or decreased

Cells may be normochormic normocytic or hypochromic microcytic RBCs ESR - raised

Ferritin - N or increased

Iron - decreased (chemokine release)

TIBC - decreasd (liver does not respond by increasing transferrin levels)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Blood film of Anaemia of chronic disease

A

RBC roleux

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Pathophysiology of ACD

A
  • RES Iron blockade; iron trapped in macrophages - Reduced Epo response - Depressed marrow activity; cytokine marrow depression
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Treatment of ACD

A

-treat underlying disorder

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Role of B12/ Folate?

A
  • Essential for DNA synthesis and nuclear maturation - Required for all dividing cells, deficiency noted first in red cells - Deficiency results in megaloblastic anaemia inititally, but will effect other organs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

B12 os involved in which two processes?

A
  • B12 (Cobalamin) necessary for 2 processes o Methylation of homocysteine to methionine o Methylmalonyl-CoA isomerisation
22
Q

Dietary sources of B12

A

o Synthesised solely by microorganisms o Meat (esp liver and kidney), small amount in dairy products o Normal Western diet 5-30ug/day

23
Q

Daily requirements of B12

24
Q

Process of B12 absorption

A
  • B12 ingested (in form of animal protein) -gastric parietal cells produces intrinsic factor - B12 binds to intrinsic factor (made by gastric parietal cells in funfus/ body of stomach) -IF-B12 complex binds to cubulin (receptor in the ileum) - B12 moves through the ileum and is absorbed via transcobalmin
25
Total loss and stores of vitamin B12 ?
- Loss o 1-2ug/d in urine/faeces - Stores – 3-4 years
26
Dietary sources of folate
Green veg (destroyed by cooking unlike B12
27
Stores of folate
- Stores – Few days only – Quickly used up if increased demand (ie increased cell turnover)
28
Absorption of folate
- Absorption – most small bowel. No carrier molecule required
29
pathophysiology of folate deficiency
- Dietary folates absorbed in small intestine - B12 required for conversion - Results in disparity in rate of synthesis of the precursors of DNA - Abnormality of cell division - megaloblastic anaemia
30
Tissues affected by b12 or folate deficiency
All rapidly growing, DNA synthesising cells B12 or folate deficiency - Bone marrow - Epithelial surfaces – mouth, stomach, small intestine, urinary, female genital tracts
31
Blood abnormalities of b12 deficiency
Megablastic anaemia (leucopenia, thrombocytopenia)
32
Neurological manifestations of b12 deficiencys
o Bilateral peripheral neuropathy or demyelination of the posterior and pyramidal tracts of spinal cord o Biochemical basis inclear- likely related to problem with homocysteine --\> methionine
33
Blood abnormalites of folate deficency
Megaloblastic anaemia (leucopenia, thrombocytopenia)
34
Growing fetus abnormalities of folate deficiency?
1st 12 weeks – deficiency can cause neural tube defects
35
Signs/symptoms of b12/folate deficency
Symptoms of anaemia/cytopenia - Tired- macrocytic/megagolastic anaemia (common) - Easy bruising – thrombocytopenic Mild jaundice - Lemon yellow tinit- haemolysis Neurological problems - Nerve distrbances as a result of B12 def - Subacute combined degeneration of cord
36
Causes of any defieicny
- Intake - Absorption - Utilisation - Loss
37
Pathopysiology of b12 deficiencys
- Pernicious anaemia --\> Problem producing IF, problem with gastric parietal cells - Gastrectomy/achlorhyda – acid content of stomach - Terminal ileum problem o Crohn’s o Resection
38
Causes of folate deficencys
- Dietary - Extensive small bowel disease o Coeliac/severe crohsn - Increased cell turnover o Haemolysis (cannot recycle folate) o Severe skin disorders o Pregnancy
39
Other causes of macrocytosis
- Reticulocytosis o 20% bigger than the average mature red cell - Cell wall abnormality (lipids) o Alcohol o Liver disease o Hypothyroidism (poorly understood) - With anaemia o Bone marrow failure syndromes
40
What are haemoglobinoathies
Problem with globin chain Inherited conditions: - Relative lack of normal globin chains due to absent genes (thalassaemias) - Variant (abnormal) globin chain eg sickle cell disease
41
Severity of haemoglobinopathies depends on?
- Amount of abnormal haemoglobin - Type of abnormal haemoglobin - Ameliorating factors
42
Haemoglobin production process?
- Globin chains produced on ribosomes - Control of production is mainly at the transcription level and depends on the availability of haem - Beta globin gene - On chromosome 11 o Epsilon, gamma, delta, beta o 1 beta gene - 2 beta chains per molecule - Alpha globin gene cluster – on chromosome 16 o Zeta 2, zeta 1 – important in fetal life o Alpha 2 and alpha 1 – important in childhood Remember 2 chromosome 11 with two beta genes, two chromosome 16 with 4 alpha genes
43
Which types of haemoglobin are important pre- birth and after birth
- HBa – adult, switched on shortly after birth - HbF – important pre birth (2 alpha and 2 gamma)
44
Thalassemias
relative lack of globin genes 4 alpha globin genes (on 2 ch16) 2 beta globin gnees (on 2 Ch11)
45
Types of alpha thalassaemias
Alpha + thal --\> Missing one gene – mild microcytosis Homozygous alpha + thal or alpha zero thal - Missing two genes – microcytosis, increased red cell count and sometimes very mild (asymptomatic) anaemia HBH disease- Missing three genes – significant anaemia (Hb approx. 75g/l) and bizzare shaped small red cells Alpha thal major -Missing four genes – incompatible with life (need alpha chains for fetal haemoglobin)
46
Causes of microcytic anaemia
Tells us that the red cells aren't making enough haemoglobin First step -MCV
47
Pathogenesis of sickle cell disease
"Abnormal beta chains in haemoglobin leading to HbS producion, HBS becomes insoluble and leads to cell sickling in hypoxic concentration Chromosome 11 Single aminoacid substitution on B globin gene at position 6 Glutamine\>valine = HbS Glutamine \>lysins = HBC
48
Problem with sickle cell disease
cant bend and block blood vessels Reduced red cell survival (haemolysis 10-20days) vaso-occlusion (tissue hypoxia) Multisytem disease
49
Multi-system effects of sickle cell
SICKLE MNEMONIC Stroke/swelling of hands and feet/spleen problems (hyposplenic) Infections/infarctions Crises (painful)/ Cholesthiasis/Chest syndrome Kidney disease Liver disease/Lung problem s Erections sustanained /Eye problems
50
Treatment of sickle cell disease
1. prevent crisis a. hydration, analgasia, early intervention b. Prophylactic vaccination and antibiotics 2. prompt management of crises -oxygen, fluids, analgaesia, antibiotics, specialist care -trasnfusion/red cell exchange 3. Bone marrow transplant in children

Haematology (11 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions