Anaemia Flashcards
2 definitions of anaemia
1) Reduction in haemoglobin concentration below that which is optimum for that individual
2) Reduction in haemoglobin concentration below 95% range for the population
What do cytoplasmic defects result in?
Impaired haemoglobinisation
What do nuclear defects result in?
Impaired cell division
Why might there be decreased production of red blood cells?
Hpoproliferation (reduced amount of erythropoiesis)
Maturation abnormality -erythropoiesis present but ineffective (cytoplasmic defects - impaired haemoglobinisation, nuclear defects - impaired cell division)
How might you assess red cell production?
Count reticulocytes
What does increased reticulocytes indicate?
This shows that the bone marrow is producing more red cells to try and compensate for the anaemia
If there is increased red cell catabolism, what might you see?
Increased unconjugated serum bilirubin
Increased urinary urobilinogen
Clinical evidence of increased red cell destruction?
Anaemia and jaundice, sometimes with splenomegaly
How does iron deficiency affect red cell maturation?
Iron deficiency leads to cytoplasmic maturation defects
Cells are microcytic and hypochromic
How doe cobalamin (vitamin B12) or folate deficiency affect red cell maturation?
Cobalamin (vitamin B12) / folate deficiency leads to a nuclear maturation defect. Cells are macrocytic (megaloblastic anaemia)
Where is haem made?
The cytoplasm
