Anaemia Flashcards
A red cell that is larger than average with RNA remnants?
Reticulocyte - immature red blood celll
How long does the up regulation of reticulocyte production take in response to anaemia?
1 -2 days (there may also be a transient initial response)
What type of anaemia do you get in iron deficiency?
Microcytic
In what two situations might Haemoglobin/Haematocrit not be good markers of anaemia?
Heavy Bleeding
IV fluids
What two things can cause loss/destruction of red blood cells?
Bleeding
Haemolysis
What two things can cause a decreased production of RBCs?
Reduced amount of erythropoiesis
Maturation abnormality - erythropoises present but ineffective
(Cytoplasmic defects causing impaired haemoglobinisation or nuclear defects causing impaired cell division
What cell parameter is most useful for deciding whether or not your anaemia is caused by increased loss or decreased production of RBCs?
Reticulocyte count
What do cytoplasmic defects of erythropoesis result in?
Impaired haemoglobinisation
What do nuclear defects of erythropoesis result in?
Impaired cell division
If the MCV is low what kind of anaemia is it?
Microcytic
If MCV is high what kind of anaemia is it?
Macrocytic
If there is a problem with haemoglobinisation what kind of anaemia will you have/?
Microcytic
If there is a problem with maturation what kind of anaemia will you have?
Macrocytic
Where is haemoglobin synthesised?
Cytoplasm
What causes hypochromic, microcytic anaemia?
Deficient haemoglobin synthesis = cytoplasmic defect
What is the most common underlying cause of hypochromic microcytic anaemia?
Iron deficiency
Aside from iron deficieny what is the other large cause of hypochromic microcytic anaemia?
Thalassaemia
What is thalassaemia?
Deficiency of globin
What two states can iron exist in?
Fe2+
Fe3+
How many oxygen molecules can bind to a haem group?
1
What molecule is iron stored as?
ferritin
What molecule is iron transferred as?
Transferrin
What is transferrin?
A protein with two binding sites for iron atoms
What does transferrin do?
Transports iron from donor tissues (macrophages, intestinal cells and hepatocytes) to tissues expresssing transferring receptors (especially in erythroid marrow)
What would transferrin levels be reduced?
Iron deficiency
Anaemia of chronic disease
What would transferrin levels be increased?
Haemachromatosis
What do low ferritin levels mean?
Iron deficiency
What is serum ferritin a measure of?
Storage iron